The LSU Police Department arrested a new suspect April 19 in the case of simple robbery that occurred Feb. 26 on Highland Road near the Parade Grounds, according to Steve Danielson, prosecuting attorney, and Sgt. Blake Tabor, spokesman for LSUPD.
Cody J. Blanchard, 24, of 3836 Addis Lane, Addis, is currently in custody in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, Tabor said.
Blanchard confessed to involvement in the crime, and his DNA was found on the victim’s necklace, which was recovered at the crime scene, Danielson said.
On April 14, LSU Police received a physical evidence analysis report from the State Police Crime Laboratory which identified Blanchard, according to an LSUPD news release. LSU Police made contact with Blanchard on April 18 in Pierre Part. Blanchard consented to DNA sampling and provided a written confession of his actions to detectives, the release said.
Danielson said he must decide whether to file charges within 60 days of the arrest, meaning a decision will be made by June 19.
Danielson said if charges were dropped against Blanchard, he could possibly be released without bail. But if charges are filed, Blanchard will proceed through the system as any other case, he said.
If filed, Danielson will have to provide the defense with discovery answers, information they are entitled to by law.
The report would disclose police reports and the arrest warrant. If charges are filed, documents become public record with the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court.
A simple robbery charge would include any violence that took place during an unarmed robbery, Danielson said.
“I just don’t know if that’s necessarily going to be the charge we file,” Danielson said. “I need to talk to the victim.”
Danielson said he will decide if the state can carry a burden of proof — if it can be proved that the attack was an attempted simple robbery — or if prosecutors should choose another charge.
Tabor said information about Blanchard’s arrest on April 19 was not put into a press release immediately because of the sensitive nature of the case.
Tabor said respect of the victim’s rights were taken into consideration, and LSUPD is working to make sure the correct person is brought to justice.
Blanchard’s arrest is the second in the Feb. 26 case. LSUPD initially arrested University student Camden Marcotte.
However, Marcotte was cleared of all charges by the District Attorney’s Office on May 3.
Danielson said charges were dropped against Marcotte “because he didn’t commit the crime.”
Tabor said evidence can take time to process, and at the time of Marcotte’s arrest investigators used the limited evidence in their possession.
“At the time, going off the evidence that we had in our possession, [Marcotte] certainly appeared to be the person responsible for the crime,” Tabor said.
Tabor maintained that LSUPD followed proper procedure.
“Since the evidence has developed, certainly that points us in a different direction,” He said. “Ultimately we made the correct arrest.”
 
 
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Contact Morgan Searles at [email protected]