The second man convicted in the Dec. 17, 2021 attack on a newspaper delivery driver in Rosepine has been sentenced. 24-year-old, Dillon James was sentenced to eight years in prison – the maximum sentence for his second-degree battery conviction. The victim was 67-years-old at the time of the attack.
“In this particular instance, a gentleman doing his job found himself in a bad situation with two individuals that were ultimately in the wrong,” said Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright.
Because of a post-conviction motion filed by James’ defense, the sentencing was delayed until this week. James was sentenced by 30th Judicial District Judge Tony C. Bennett, who suspended one year of the eight-year sentence.
“Emotionally I don’t believe Mr. Blanks has recovered. From the physical aspect, he’s recovered for the most part. I believe he still has damage to one of his eyes,” said Lambright.
James and his brother, Douglas Paul James, 33, of DeRidder, were found guilty of beating Woodie Blanks – after he delivered a newspaper to James’ grandfather’s home on Catfish Hut Road. Lambright says the safety of the residents in Vernon Parish is his priority.
“One of my primary responsibilities is to make sure we have a safe place for people to live and they can come and go at any time of the day or night without fear of becoming a victim of crime.
James brother, Douglas Paul James of DeRidder received a smiliar sentence last October.
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