Alert deputy apprehends convicted felon

ST. FRANCISVILLE — West Feliciana Parish Sheriff J. Austin Daniel credited his chief deputy Monday with possibly saving the life of a woman who had been threatened with death through a Denham Springs man’s postings on social media.

Daniel said Adam M. Lovett, 29, 32089 Stewart Drive, Denham Springs, has been in the West Feliciana Parish Jail in lieu of $1 million bail since his arrest Thursday night.

“I can’t think of anyone else who’s been in our jail under a $1 million bond,” the sheriff said.

Deputies booked Lovett with attempted second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and violation of a protective order, the sheriff said.

Daniel said the woman had been in a relationship with Lovett but recently moved to a relative’s house in St. Francisville to get away from him and got a protective order in 20th Judicial District Court prohibiting Lovett from contacting her.

Daniel said Chief Deputy Randy Metz was leaving his home Thursday evening and noticed a car moving slowly by the nearby home of Lovett’s former girlfriend.

Thinking someone was possibly planning to burglarize the home, Metz turned around and found the car in the woman’s driveway with its hood raised.

Lovett and his mother, who also was in the car, claimed they were going to a casino and developed car trouble, but Metz noticed the butt of a pistol sticking from under the front seat of the car.

After learning that Lovett was a convicted felon, Metz called for assistance, and deputies found two loaded handguns under the seat, Daniel said.

Examining social media postings, deputies discovered Lovett allegedly had posted farewell comments to his friends on social media and statements such as, “I’ll be on the news,” Daniel said.

Deputies also found a specific threat to kill the woman on Lovett’s phone, the sheriff said.