Iberia Parish 11-year-old sentenced to 7 years in juvenile prison, half suspended

Scott Yoshonis
·2 min read
10

NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) — An 11-year-old girl was sentenced to 7 years in Juvenile detention, with 3.5 years suspended, in connection with the murder of Kameran Bedsole on Nov. 14.

The girl was originally charged with murder in connection with the incident, but those charges were dropped. She pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in April.

In the sentence handed down by 16th Judicial District Court Judge Roger Hamilton, she will spend 3.5 years in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Justice, and the remainder of the seven years on probation. She will also be required to take firearm safety classes.

“This judge had the authority to make it to where this child did not have to take the consequences of corrupt laws made in the state of Louisiana,” Devon Norman of the Village 337 said.

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In March, the statedropped the murder charge against the child for her involvement in the November slaying of Bedsole. She then pled guilty to obstruction of justice which, as a juvenile, would have kept the child in custody up to when she turns 18. During the child’s probation, she is authorized to go through school, community service, rehab and gun safety training. Multiple advocacy groups have followed the child through the process and are not satisfied with the sentencing and are still left with questions.

“Community must ask the question why was it that an 11-year-old child was in that situation? What was the relationship between the two children and this grown adult? That’s right. We still have many questions that have been honest about what the questions answered,” he added.

The groups present said they will continue to be by her side and fight for what they say was an unjust ruling for an 11-year-old girl.

“Who are you punishing her or her family who the only person that seems like they suffering in this situation in her,” All Streets All People Advocate said.

“They failed her,” Michael McClanahan with the NAACP said. “They failed all of us. It’s that little girl today. It’s your child tomorrow.”

The mother of the child, who was also charged for her involvement in the murder, has a tirial scheduled for July 15.

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