LSP Col. Hodges gets do-over on Lt. Jefferson as he is arrested again for alleged coverups, destruction of evidence on multiple domestic violence and child endangerment incidents.

Louisiana State Police (LSP) Lt. James Jefferson III embraces his attorney, Jill Craft, after his Motion for Summary Disposition was granted by the Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC) on Thursday, February 12, 2026.  Jefferson was arrested on March 31, 2026 entailing allegations made by the Attorney General’s Office that he engaged in “multiple incidents” of domestic violence, then used his position to cover up the alleged incidents, and also that he destroyed evidence pertaining to those incidents.

Our site visitors will recall our February 22, 2026 feature of the LSPC summarily dismissing all charges entailing Lt. James Jefferson III who had been subjected to a 48-hour suspension by LSP Col. Robert Hodges for his conduct pertaining to an arrest for alleged domestic violence with child endangerment approximately one year previous to our feature.  Hodges also disciplined Jefferson for failing to turn in an unmarked LSP unit and instead keeping the unit in his yard for over six months after it was due back to the Department.

After our initial feature, on February 25, 2026, we produced this feature showing that, with Jefferson raking in $205,000 in 2024, taxpayers were owed more of an explanation than a “late Loudermill letter.”

In the just-linked feature, Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns felt an obligation to submit public records requests to Baton Rouge City Police (for body cam on the 2025 incident), the LSPC for any material considered during the summary disposition hearing, and to LSP for his IA file pertaining to the 2025 incident.

As is always the case, the LSPC took very little time in fulfilling our records request.  Furthermore, that material, in our minds, very definitively and authoritatively backs up Col. Hodges’ contention that the discipline was fully warranted.

Furthermore, we commend him for his steadfast insistence that Jefferson be disciplined for his actions as depicted in the Letter of Proposed Discipline on the just-linked documentation (see pages 127-141 for by far the most legible copy of the several copies we received as part of the complete package).

Here is the video for today’s feature:

March 31, 2026:  Burns assesses the latest Jefferson arrest and provides his take on the LSPC hearing granting Summary Disposition of the penalties imposed by LSP Col. Robert Hodges.

From Col. Hodges’ letter of intended 48-hour suspension:

While you were gone, Mrs. Jefferson stated she was on the phone with her aunt, Ms. Pulliam, discussing the argument with her. Mrs. Jefferson advised that you returned to the home around 11: 16 p.m. She stated that you sat outside in your truck (unmarked unit), in the driveway, for about 45 minutes, which prompted her to go outside to retrieve Ethan, who was asleep in the truck. Mrs. Jefferson stated she was still upset, and another confrontation escalated between her and you, next to your unit.

Officer Lemaire advised that during his initial interaction with you, he detected a strong odor of what he recognized as an alcoholic beverage. He also observed that you were unsteady on your feet, swayed back and forth, which suggested possible impairment. Although you told him that you did not consume any alcohol that night, Officer Lemaire was still concerned that alcohol was a contributing factor to the events that night. Officer Lemaire detained you, placed you in handcuffs, and seated you in the back seat of his patrol unit while he continued his investigation.

While Officer Lemaire was investigating, Mrs. Jeffierson provided him and the other officers on the scene with the video of the home surveillance footage. The video footage did not offer a clear view of the events because you and Mrs Jefferson were between two vehicles, but there was also audio.  Officer Lemaire stated that Mrs. Jefferson was heard yelling, “He’s punching me, “and “Don’t throw me to the ground.” Officer Lemaire advised that there were sounds consistent with a physical struggle or a scuffle. The audible portion strongly suggested that there was a physical struggle Officer Lemaire stated that he did not see any striking motions on the video footage, but the view was obstructed.

Officer Lemaire stated that he observed a scratch on the back of your hand, and you told him it probably occurred when you bent down to pick up your keys from the ground. He advised that he did not observe any bruises or abrasions on Mrs. Jefferson.  Officer Lemaire stated that he determined that there was probable cause to arrest you for Domestic Abuse Battery based on the scuffling noises and Mrs. Jefferson’s cries of distress in the home surveillance video footage, the information received from the aunt, your apparent odor of alcohol, your unsteady posture, and the scratch on your hand.

The following are the words that could be understood:
Mrs. Jefferson: “Why I’m at you, grown man, why I’m at you, why I’m at you” .. ,
Mrs. Jefferson:” …. That’s the problem … ”
Mrs. Jefferson: “If you can just let me have him.”
Mrs. Jefferson: “And, and, and… I know you do not care…. I know you don’t care … I’ll be ok ….. you are being … to be petty”
There is a muffled back-and-forth exchange of words between you and Mrs. Jefferson.
Mrs. Jefferson: “Let me get my child.”
Mrs. Jefferson is speaking, but it is muffled.
You: “Stop pushing me.”
Mrs. Jefferson: I’m not pushing you when you punching me.” At this time, the horn of the truck was heard.
Mrs. Jefferson: You punching me on the shoulder when my hands are raised … grabbing me out my … ”
Mrs. Jefferson: “Owah …. Owah … Owah ….. Help.” The horn was heard at least 4 times.
Mrs. Jefferson: “Move it. .. He’s pushing me, he’s pushing me!’ The horn was heard.
Mrs. Jefferson: “Please don’t throw me down on the ground. No.”
You: “Call’em, please call’em.”
Mrs. Jefferson: ”He just pushed me.”
You: “Call’em.. Call ’em … Call’em … hurry up and call’em.” Hom was heard.

As we stated above, Lt. Jefferson was arrested again today by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.  From the preceding link:

A Louisiana State Police trooper who allegedly covered up evidence and lied to law enforcement investigating him for domestic violence was arrested Tuesday.

Trooper James Jefferson III, 41, was taken into custody by the attorney general’s office.

The AG’s office said investigators found evidence of multiple instances of domestic abuse against his wife of 15 years. Jefferson allegedly used his position in law enforcement to sway the outcomes of investigations.

“He had direct influence on law enforcement investigations where he was a suspect,” Press Secretary Lester Duhé said.

Jefferson allegedly destroyed evidence of domestic abuse and gave false statements during questioning with law enforcement.

The WBRZ Investigative Unit was at the scene when Jefferson was arrested. He will be booked for domestic aggravated assault by strangulation, domestic abuse with child endangerment, aggravated second-degree battery, obstruction of justice and filing false public records. The alleged incidents spanned from Feb. 5, 2025, to Dec. 29, 2025.

State Police said Jefferson is currently on administrative leave. He worked in LSP’s Gaming Control unit and has been employed at LSP since 2007.

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Editor’s Note:  The above content was on WBRZ’s website feature of the matter in its original publication.  Subsequent to that publication, material was added and removed, and here is the updated material from the same feature:

Jefferson was booked for domestic abuse battery with child endangerment, but the district attorney declined to prosecute because the victim asked to drop the charges. New documents say the victim was pressured by Jefferson in that incident and others to lie to investigating officers.

According to an arrest warrant, Jefferson texted the victim while she was meeting with the DA to “Hurry tell them u mentally off… U had episode.”

Documents say that it wasn’t the only instance of Jefferson forcing the victim to lie to police.

In November, Jefferson allegedly pushed the victim, grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the ground before getting in his truck and accelerating toward her. The report says the victim was struck and pinned between two cars before passing out.

Investigators interviewed two children who were there at the time of the alleged incident. The children told law enforcement they believed the victim was dead.

The warrant says, when officers arrived, both Jefferson and the victim said it was a traffic crash and not a domestic violence incident.

Jefferson allegedly sent a text message about the incident, saying “But we ain’t talking about truth. We’re talking about the crash report.”

The victim said she wanted to tell the truth about what happened, “but did not do so at the urging of James Jefferson III.” The victim was given two traffic tickets.

 

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As Burns stated on the video, Col. Hodges got it right, and a BRPD Officer got a bad and undeserved rap over this whole scandal.  That fact notwithstanding, the one with the most culpability over this disastrous episode is, as per Burns’ commentary in the above video, the “piss poor” District Attorney of East Baton Rouge:  Hillar Moore!  Here’s the final commentary of the original above-linked feature of WBRZ demonstrating Burns’ point (pertaining to the 2025 incident):

Jefferson was booked for domestic abuse battery with child endangerment, but the district attorney declined to prosecute.

That one sentence about sums it up, folks!

It was our plan to produce another feature for Thursday, but we’re now going to push that back to the beginning of next week, so we hope everyone has a Happy Easter weekend!