City Marshal Brian Pope to serve 30 days in jail

Two years after Lafayette City Marshal Brian Pope was found guilty of contempt of court, he was ordered Wednesday to serve jail time.

Judge Jules Edwards revoked Pope's probation Wednesday and ordered him to serve 30 days in jail, with credit for seven days he previously served on house arrest.

Pope was immediately escorted from the courtroom by Lafayette Parish Sheriff's deputies and walked across the street to the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center in handcuffs and leg irons.

The decision came during a hearing to determine if Pope had violated the terms of his probation on a 2016 contempt of court charge in a civil case he lost for refusing a newspaper's public records request for emails.

Pope's attorney, Skip Philips, argued in court Wednesday it would be difficult for the city marshal to complete court-ordered litter abatement before his probation deadline in November. Instead, he asked Edwards to allow Pope to educate others about public records laws.

Pope reached out this week, Philips said, to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Louisiana City Marshals Association about speaking opportunities.

Philips said Pope showed "a good-faith effort" that should be acknowledged by the court.

"That's what you call good faith?" Edwards asked.

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In March 2016, Edwards placed Pope on probation and ordered him, for his community service, to speak to groups about Louisiana's public records laws. He suggested even doing so on the public access television channel.

After more than a year went by and Pope did nothing, Edwards ordered him to collect litter. Pope didn't start until a few days before a December 2017 hearing on his probation.

"I think I've bent over backwards," Edwards said

The day Pope was placed on probation, Edwards said, he explained the effort it would take to schedule speaking and educational events.

"I find today the marshal has done nothing, nothing to comply with the conditions of his probation," he continued.

Judge: Pope trying to delay hearing

Edwards denied Philips' request to halt imposition of the jail sentence, saying he already did it.

"Once is enough," Edwards said. "Today is the day."

Pope declined to comment.

Amber Gotcher-Robinson, chairperson of the failed Recall Brian Pope effort, said afterward Edwards' decision shows the city marshal is not above the law and the public can fight corruption.

In November 2016, Pope was indicted on felony perjury and malfeasance charges stemming from the public records case initiated by The Independent newspaper and Pope's sworn testimony about using his office for his campaign.

He is due in court March 26 for motions on the felony charges.

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