PLAQUEMINE, La. (BRPROUD) — Plaquemine Police Chief Kenny Payne pled no contest to malfeasance in office charges after allegations of demanding sexual favors from a woman in April of this year.
He was placed on bench probation for a one-year period after the court suspended a three-year prison sentence, according to the Iberville Parish Clerk of Court. Payne was ordered by the court to pay a $5,000 fine and provide a written resignation before the end of the day Monday, Nov. 28.
A grand jury indicted Payne, 63, on five counts of malfeasance in office Monday, Nov. 21. An indictment said that Payne allegedly committed malfeasance in office on April 19, 2022, after allegedly demanding sexual favors from a victim to dismiss charges against her boyfriend.
Payne is also accused of ordering a lieutenant to delete text messages from the victim reporting sexual misconduct the same day. On the following day, April 20, Payne requested that Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi not launch an investigation after the victim reported him, documents said.
According to the indictment, Payne is also accused of using a city-paid storage building for personal use.
Payne turned himself in to jail Tuesday morning before bonding out at $25,000.