New Iberia ad exec Philip deMahy Sr. pleaded guilty Friday, but questions linger on the handling of the investigation and over his connections to the 16th Judicial District.
[Editor's Note: This story has been updated twice to reflect new information provided by the 16th Judicial District Attorney's Office, the state Attorney General's Office and Stephen Hammons of Louisiana State Police Troop I.]
New Iberia ad exec Philip deMahy Sr. pleaded guilty Friday morning to 10 counts of possessing child pornography. His plea was accepted by 16th Judicial District Charles Porter in New Iberia.
Philip deMahy Sr. image from Facebook
deMahy is the brother of 16th Judicial District Judge Paul deMahy. He also ran the re-election campaign for District Attorney Phil Haney, whose office later recused itself, handing prosecution of the case over to the state Attorney General's Office.
News of deMahy's arrest Nov. 5 by Louisiana State Police somehow escaped the local media's attention, although his name was listed in a brief arrest report In the Daily Iberian. That, coupled with the fact that no press release was issued by State Police regarding the arrest, gave an appearance that the judge's brother, whose computer allegedly contained about 30 images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts, was getting preferential treatment.
At the time of his arrest, deMahy was only charged with one count of possessing child pornography, according to information provided at the time by Louisiana State Police Troop I spokesman Stephen Hammons.
Yet in court Friday deMahy pleaded to 10 counts, according to a press release sent this afternoon by the AG's office. The release also notes that FBI agents assisted State Police in the investigation, information that was not initially disclosed when The IND first reported this story.
It is currently unclear why the charges were upgraded from one to 10 counts of possessing child pornography.
In previous discussions with Hammons in November, the FBI's involvement was never disclosed. Hammons also stressed at the time that due to evidence collected at the time of the arrest - more than 30 images depicting various acts of child pornography were found on his personal computer - deMahy would face only a single count.
"We charge, but the AG or district attorney always has the option to amend those charges," Hammons tells The IND in an interview Friday.
In an email received Friday evening, Amanda Larkins, communications director for the AG's office, writes: "Upon further review, it was determined that additional counts were appropriate."
Former District Judge John Conery was originally assigned the case. Though Conery has since been seated as a judge on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal, he commented on deMahy's case in November, saying, "There were no victims involved, so he could get a suspended sentence of up to five years."
That would have been a damn good deal for deMahy, since the AG's press release says each count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in a Louisiana Department of Corrections facility.
With Conery gone, the case has been reassigned to 16th JDC Judge Charles Porter, who will ultimately decide deMahy's fate. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 4.
Click here for The IND's original report on deMahy's arrest.