An Alexandria man accused of killing a Ball man last year for his iPhone and a credit card attached to it accepted a plea agreement Wednesday, the second day of jury selection in his trial.
Terrance K. Lavalais pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the January 2022 killing of Deven Slade Brooks, 27.
He had been indicted on the charge in April 2022, along with co-defendants Jamaria Xavier Randle and Tremaine Deshun Veal.
Ninth Judicial District Court Judge Greg Beard sentenced Lavalais to life in prison without the possibility of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
However, the agreement does stipulate that the state might ask for a reduction of his sentence if he provides "significant assistance" during the trials of Veal and Randle, set for Feb. 6 and 13, respectively.
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Brooks' body was found tossed down an embankment of the Red River underneath the Purple Heart Memorial Bridge on Jan. 11, 2022. He had been bound with zip ties, duct tape and cables and shot once in his head.
He had been reported as a possible kidnapping victim to the Ball Police Department two days earlier.
During a May 2022 bond reduction hearing for Lavalais, Alexandria Police Department Detective Jason Mouliere testified about what investigators believed to be the motive for the killing. He said they believed Brooks was targeted for his iPhone and a credit card that was attached to it.
He said the phone was used after Brooks' death to buy items and get cash from automated teller machines.
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Man pleads guilty to murder of Ball resident Deven Brooks
