A Louisiana man has filed a lawsuit against a sheriff and deputy after claiming he spent more than a year in jail without proper evidence connecting him to criminal activity. The lawsuit accuses law enforcement officials of violating his constitutional rights and keeping him locked up as part of a broader prosecution strategy tied to another drug case.
The case has raised serious questions about probable cause, pretrial detention, and the rights of people accused of crimes before they are convicted.
Louisiana Man Sues Sheriff After Spending 13 Months in Jail
The lawsuit was filed by 50-year-old Troy Tate against Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard and Deputy Keaston Evitt.
According to court documents, Tate was arrested in July 2024 on multiple drug-related charges and remained in jail for approximately 13 months before prosecutors eventually dropped the charges against him.
Tate’s attorney, Garrett DeReus, claims the affidavit used to justify the arrest lacked meaningful evidence connecting his client to any criminal wrongdoing.
The lawsuit argues that Tate’s civil rights were violated because he was arrested and detained without probable cause.
DeReus is now seeking damages on behalf of his client for the time he spent incarcerated.
Drug Investigation Led to Multiple Arrests
According to reports, the case began on July 17, 2024, after the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division received information from a confidential informant.
Authorities were told that a man identified as Kelvin “Bo-Bo” Johnson was allegedly selling fentanyl and methamphetamine from a residence in Walker, Louisiana.
Investigators later arranged a controlled purchase of drugs through the informant and secured a search warrant for Johnson’s home on Blount Lane.
When deputies searched the property, they arrested Johnson along with three other individuals, including Troy Tate.
Tate was charged with possession with intent to distribute Schedule I narcotics, possession with intent to distribute Schedule II narcotics, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lawsuit Claims No Direct Evidence Linked Tate to Drugs
According to the lawsuit, another man arrested at the property allegedly told investigators that drugs including fentanyl, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms were hidden inside a shed behind the house.
Deputy Evitt reportedly stated in the affidavit that he believed both Christopher Jones and Troy Tate had access to the narcotics stored in the shed.
However, Tate’s attorney argues that was the only mention of his client in connection to criminal activity.
The lawsuit claims there was no evidence showing Tate lived at the residence, possessed drugs, entered the shed, or participated in drug trafficking activities.
DeReus also argues that the confidential informant never identified Tate as part of the alleged drug operation.
According to the lawsuit, Tate’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated because deputies allegedly arrested him without sufficient probable cause.
Attorney Claims Charges Were Delayed for Strategic Reasons
Tate’s legal team also alleges prosecutors intentionally delayed dismissing the charges against him until after Johnson’s criminal trial was completed.
Johnson was later convicted on fentanyl-related charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
According to DeReus, prosecutors feared that dismissing Tate’s case earlier might help Johnson’s defence team during trial proceedings.
The lawsuit claims Tate remained in jail while prosecutors used his continued detention as part of their legal strategy.
DeReus argued that his client lost more than a year of freedom while facing charges supported by limited evidence.
Sheriff Denies Wrongdoing
Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard responded publicly to the lawsuit and denied the allegations.
According to statements released Tuesday, Ard said the claims made against his office and Deputy Evitt are without merit.
He also confirmed that the sheriff’s office has already filed legal motions seeking dismissal of the lawsuit.
Because the matter is now active litigation, officials said they cannot comment further at this time.
The lawsuit filed by Troy Tate has brought renewed attention to concerns surrounding wrongful arrests, lengthy pretrial detention, and constitutional protections within the criminal justice system.
While authorities continue defending the original arrest and investigation, Tate’s legal team argues that his time behind bars caused irreversible harm to his life and freedoms. The case is expected to continue through the courts as both sides prepare legal arguments regarding whether his constitutional rights were violated during the investigation and prosecution process.
