Man pleads in shooting case
CLINTON -- A Clinton man avoided a possible prison term Tuesday by entering a “no contest” plea to a reduced charge in the 2010 shooting of East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Talmadge Bunch’s son.
Joshua Rogers, 27, of 7613 Plank Road, entered the plea to attempted second-degree battery shortly before his trial on an attempted second-degree murder count was scheduled to begin before 20th Judicial District Judge George H. Ware Jr.
Ware sentenced Rogers to a suspended 30-month prison term and placed him on supervised probation for three years on the condition that he pay a $1,000 fine and costs of court, serve two months of public service and submit to periodic drug screens, District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla said.
D’Aquilla said the plea bargain was in the best interest of justice in the shooting of Bennett Bunch, 32, “considering the evidence and lack thereof.”
Bennett Bunch told investigators that a green Chevrolet Tahoe pulled onto Plank Road about 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 4, 2010, forcing him to brake his truck suddenly.
Bunch said he passed the vehicle, and someone showed a gun and fired at least two shots at Bunch’s truck.
D’Aquilla said Bunch was unable to identify Rogers as the shooter, although ammunition found later in Rogers’ truck had the same type of slugs as those that hit Bunch.
Deputies found one bullet in the cab of Bunch’s truck and the other was removed from his shoulder during surgery.
Police were unable to find the gun that fired the bullets, D’Aquilla said.