A Metairie steakhouse chef is at the center of a sprawling criminal case after a drug probe led Jefferson Parish detectives to what they say was an illegal sexual relationship with a teenage girl. Narcotics officers stopped 63-year-old Lathelton Jones during a May investigation that turned up fentanyl, and deputies later say they found explicit images and admissions on his phone. Jones now faces both sex and drug charges and is barred from contacting the victim, according to court records.
Booking records show Jones was arrested May 28 and booked on counts including carnal knowledge of a juvenile, sexual battery, video voyeurism, manufacturing of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of marijuana, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. The agency's online inmate log lists the charge codes and the date of arrest. Detectives say the stop and subsequent searches were part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.
How police say the case unfolded
Narcotics detectives say they pulled Jones over on Severn Avenue near West Napoleon just after 5 p.m., then executed a search warrant at his Division Street home, as reported by NOLA.com. Investigators told the outlet deputies found about 10 grams of a powder in Jones' vehicle that tested positive for fentanyl, and they say marijuana and additional suspected fentanyl were seized at the residence. Detectives also encountered an 18-year-old woman at the home who identified herself as Jones' girlfriend.
What deputies booked him on
The Jefferson Parish booking log lists the felony carnal-knowledge and sexual-battery counts along with video voyeurism and several fentanyl-related offenses, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. The online entry shows multiple drug counts that investigators tied to manufacturing and distribution and records Jones' age as 63. Those booking details form the backbone of the criminal case now under review.
Legal implications and court action
Under Louisiana law, felony carnal knowledge covers sexual intercourse when a person 17 or older has sex with someone 13 to 16 and the age difference is four years or greater, per the Louisiana Legislature. A criminal commissioner later issued a protective order barring Jones from contacting the victim and set bond at $250,000, as reported by NOLA.com.
Next steps
The investigation remains active and is expected to be referred to prosecutors for formal charging and further court action. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the sheriff's office.
