Two trials in Jefferson Parish made headlines this week with significant outcomes. Carlton Waller, aged 31, pleaded guilty to aggravated second-degree battery after his victim testified against him, while Eder Vasquez, 41, was convicted on charges of child pornography possession.
In a turn of events that highlights the unpredictability and often swift nature of criminal proceedings, Waller entered his plea immediately following the testimony of his victim on April 1st. According to the District Attorney's Office, the assault occurred last year when an argument over a pair of AirPods escalated into a violent confrontation in their Metairie apartment. Waller was handed a 14-year prison sentence by Judge Donnie Rowan of the 24th Judicial District Court.
Vasquez, on the other hand, faced a jury which returned with unanimous guilty verdicts after less than an hour of deliberation for two counts of possessing pornographic material depicting children under the age of 13. The investigation into Vasquez's activities began in May 2020 following a tip received by the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and resulted in the seizure of thousands of sexually explicit images and videos from Vasquez’s phone. The jury reviewed some of the graphic evidence that included nine photographs and three videos clearly showing underage children.
Meanwhile, Vasquez’s attorney presented a defense claiming his client inadvertently clicked on links he believed contained "funny jokes," but instead displayed illegal pornographic content. Vasquez himself admitted to having received and viewed inappropriate material through WhatsApp. Sentencing for the possession charges is scheduled for May 1, according to a statement from Judge June Berry Darensburg of the 24th Judicial District Court. Waller's case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Taylor Somerville, whose efforts led to the swift guilty plea and subsequent sentencing.
