BEAUMONT – A former Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy recently testified that attorney Wayne Reaud of Reaud Morgan & Quinn threatened him with criminal charges if he didn’t concoct corruption claims against former district judge Layne Walker – an accusation that Reaud completely denies.
The Record has obtained the oral deposition of former sheriff’s deputy Steven Broussard, which was given on Jan. 25 in the case of Steve Hartman v. Layne Walker et al.
Back in 2013, Broussard, who retired that year amid allegations of evidence tampering, was a bailiff in Walker’s court. Before retiring, Broussard arrested plaintiff Steve Hartman on May 28, 2013, when Hartman tried to serve Walker with a lawsuit while the judge has holding court.
The incident spawned multiple lawsuits, including the aforementioned case.
According to Broussard’s testimony, around six years ago Don Dodd, publisher of The Examiner, which is owned by Reaud, called Broussard and told him Reaud was interested in his case.
At the time, Broussard says he was trying to find an attorney to represent him in a wrongful termination suit and agreed to meet with Reaud. He made an appointment and took his family to Reaud’s office.
Broussard claims two retired FBI agents were present when he met with Reaud. When Broussard presented Reaud with a list of infractions transpiring at the Sheriff’s Department over what he believed was a conspiracy to terminate his employment, Reaud allegedly told him he was “not here for that.”
Broussard says Reaud told him he was there so he could protect him criminally. Broussard then told Reaud he wasn’t under criminal investigation, to which Reaud allegedly replied: “Well, it’s just a matter of time.”
“[B]asically, it sounded like he was threatening me,” Broussard testified. “[H]e told me if I didn't give up the corruption on Judge Layne Walker that it was absolutely a matter of time before I was indicted.”
When Broussard said he didn’t know of any corruption, Reaud told him the best thing he could is to come forward regardless, according to the deposition.
“I mean, I kind of surmised that he was getting at, well, just make something up if I didn't want to look at criminal charges against me,” Broussard testified. “If I was willing to lie on Judge Layne Walker, I would have no problems. If I refused to make up something, to make it look like he was the guilty party, then they were going to come after me.”
A few months after the meeting, Broussard was brought up on criminal charges, which later were dropped.
The Record reached out to Reaud, who confirmed that he did meet with Broussard but denies ever putting pressure on him to “give up the corruption” on Walker.
“Broussard is a sick man,” Reaud said. “He’s not telling the truth.”
Reaud said Broussard came to his office to try and hire him but that he refused to represent the former deputy.
Walker is represented by Jeffrey Dorrell, a Hanszen LaPorte attorney.
Beaumont attorney John Morgan represents Hartman.
Filed in Jefferson County District Court, case No. A-198246.