Former Marksville City Marshal, Derrick Stafford, who fatally shot a six-year-old autistic boy during a chase has been sentenced to 40 years in prison. Stafford was convicted of manslaughter. State Judge Billy Bennett ordered Stafford must severe at least 20 years before he’s eligible for parole. More

An Avoyelles Parish jury found former Marksville City Marshal, Derrick Stafford, guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a 6-year-old boy and the injuring of his father. Stafford will be sentenced on March 31st. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the judge will be under enormous pressure so Stafford is likely looking at close to 40 years in prison.More

A 12-person jury in Avoyelles Parish has found law enforcement officer Derrick Stafford guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter in the shooting death of a 6-year-old autistic boy. His father, Christopher Few, was also wounded in the shooting that took place at the end of a chase in 2015.

Stafford will be sentenced on March 31st. He faces up to 40 years in prison. The jury could have found Stafford guilty of 2nd degree murder, which would have resulted in an automatic life sentence.

Opening arguments in the Derrick Stafford trial are set for 9 a.m. in Marksville. The former deputy marshal faces murder and attempted murder charges after he and another officer allegedly shot at a vehicle killing a 6-year-old boy and injuring his father. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the main issue is whether the shooting was justified.

The trial begins today for one Marksville City Marshal accused of fatally shooting a 6-year-old boy. 33-year-old Derrick Stafford is one of two officers accused of firing into the victim’s vehicle in November of 2015 killing an autistic child, Jeremy Mardis and injuring his father, Chris Few. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says the graphic body camera video will play a critical part in the case.More

The body cam video has been released of the police shooting that left a 6-year-old autistic boy dead in Marksville last November. The graphic video shows deputy city marshal Derrick Stafford firing into a vehicle, where Jeremy Mardis was seated in the passenger seat. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it doesn’t look good for Stafford.More

The lawyer of a Marksville City Marshall accused of fatally shooting a 6-year-old boy has filed a motion to move the trial out of Avoyelles Parish. 31-year-old Derrick Stafford’s attorney, Christopher LaCour says with all the media coverage he doesn’t believe Stafford can get a fair trial in this parish.More

Trial dates are set for two deputy Marksville city marshals charged with the shooting death of a 6-year-old boy in November. 32-year-old Derrick Stafford and 24-year-old Norris Greenhouse entered pleas of not guilty and will be tried separately in the death of Jeremy Mardis.