Senior Command Staff

Harold Jean Batiste

Chief Deputy

Harold Jean Batiste, Jr., is currently the Chief Deputy. He completed his early education at St. Martinville Senior High before pursuing higher education at Southern University. There, Batiste achieved an associate degree in law enforcement followed by a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Over a distinguished 29-year career with the Louisiana State Police, he has received numerous accolades. His professional experience is rich, featuring a strong focus on narcotics, alongside extensive training in criminal investigations, leadership, and management. His comprehensive background and training have prepared him well for his responsibilities as Chief Deputy..

Donna Albert Lasseigne

Chief Financial Officer

Donna Albert Lasseigne has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. She is a graduate of St. Martinville Senior High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in 2005. She has been a licensed CPA since 2007 and worked in public accounting for 7 years after obtaining her degree. She also served as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of St. Martinville for 6 years before joining the sheriff’s office in 2018. Donna has served as both Staff Accountant and Accounting Director during her years with the Sheriff’s Office.

Chester Cedars

Chief Legal Counsel

Chester Cedars has over 48 years’ experience in the general practice of law. During his career, he has represented numerous public entities including the City of Breaux Bridge, Hospital Service District No. 2 of St. Martin Parish, St. Martin Parish Assessor’s Office, St. Martin Parish Civil Service Board, St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court’s Office, St. Martin Parish Fire Service District, St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Martin Parish School Board, St. Martin Parish Government and several other state and local boards and commissions. In 1984, Mr. Cedars was hired as an Assistant District Attorney of the 16th Judicial District where he oversaw all prosecutions and served as the supervisor of St. Martin Parish, one of the three parishes in the 16th Judicial District. During his tenure, Mr. Cedars prosecuted countless felony cases including homicides, rapes, and major drug offenses. He retired from the District Attorney’s office in July of 2016. Thereafter, he worked for the Louisiana Department of Justice under the direction of the Attorney General as Director of the Civil Division. Mr. Cedars served as Parish President of St. Martin Parish from March 2, 2018, until January 8, 2024. He was elected to that position by a vote of 74% and ran unopposed for a second term. He chose not to seek a third term. Mr. Cedars has spoken at numerous state conferences on topics including Public Records, Open Meeting Laws, Criminal Justice Reform, Public Body Immunity, Local Governmental Structure, and Unfunded Mandates. He has also recently served as the Chairman of the State Opioid Abatement Taskforce, President of the Acadiana Crime Lab Commission, Vice Chair of the Acadiana Planning Commission, and was a member of the Louisiana Commission on Justice System Funding. Last October, he was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court to speak at its Judicial Fall Seminar. He has recently been appointed a board member of the newly established Acadiana Juvenile Justice District.

Ginny Higgins

Executive Officer of Administrative Services

A 26-year veteran of the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ginny Higgins, will continue to serve as Public Affairs Division Commander. She holds a bachelor’s in criminal justice from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (University of Louisiana), and an associate degree in legal secretarial studies from St. Mary’s Dominican College in New Orleans. Higgins holds various certifications in domestic violence, crisis intervention and negotiation. She is a graduate of the P.O.S.T. Academy, P.O.S.T. Juvenile Officer Academy, and of the National Victim Assistance Academy. She has served as an elderly services officer and as a supervisor of the school resource officers. She is also on the FBI Joint Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team (JCARD).

Sandy Trosclair

Executive Administrative Assistant

Trosclair is a graduate of St. Martinville Senior High School and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (University of Louisiana – Lafayette) in 1997.  She served the nursing home industry as an Administrator for nearly 19 years before coming to the Sheriff’s Office.

Kervin Fontenette

Enforcement Division Commander

Captain Kervin Fontenette has been promoted to the rank of Major and will be the new Enforcement Commander over the Patrol, Civil, Investigations, and Narcotics Divisions. He most recently served as the Investigations Commander.
Major Kervin James Fontenette, Sr., has been employed with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office for the past 33 years. He began his career in the Juvenile Division in 1988 and went on to serve in the Patrol, Civil, and Criminal Investigations Divisions, Additionally, he also briefly served as the Juvenile Administrator for the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Facility. He was born and raised in St. Martinville and attended St. Martinville Senior High School. Following his graduation from St. Martinville Senior High School, he attended Southern University and received a degree· in Criminal Justice. He is married to Danielle Fontenette and they have four children and one grandson. In his downtime, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and playing golf. 

Terry Guidry

Special Service Division Commander / OHSEP Director

The current Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for St. Martin Parish, Terry Guidry, will serve as Support Services Division Commander / OHSEP Director. Guidry began his career with the sheriff’s office as a correctional officer in 1992 and rose through the ranks to major. He currently also supervises special services, fleet and maintenance, and the Marine Patrol Division. Guidry also serves as a coroner investigator, holds a Louisiana Emergency Manager Professional certification, and has completed the Governors’ Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Command College.

EJ Melancon

Correctional Division Commander

Ellis James Melancon Jr. is a 24 year veteran with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office. He has held the title of Warden for the past six years. During his tenure with the Sheriff’s Office he has held various positions including the following: Criminal Investigator, Narcotics Agent, Patrol Supervisor and Warrants Service Bureau Supervisor. He was also a member of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team, Louisiana Sheriff’s Task Force and United States Marshal Gator Task force. He also was an Instructor at the St. Martin Parish Training Academy.

Ellis Melancon is also an 11 year Veteran of the Army National Guard where he was a Mechanized Infantry Soldier. During his military career he was deployed to Central America Belize on a peace keeping mission in 1997 and in 2004 was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his military career he has received numerous service medals, Two Army Achievement Medals, Army Accommodation Medal, Combat Infantry  badge, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device, Army Service Ribbon, Louisiana War Cross Medal and Louisiana Emergency Service Medal. In March 2005, he fulfilled his military obligation and was honorably discharged. Ellis is a lifelong resident of St. Martin Parish and looks forward to continue serving the citizens of St. Martin Parish.