A psychology sophomore was arrested on charges of illegal possession of stolen things and theft of goods on Nov. 2.According to University Police, Corey Duplantis from Thibodaux was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center and received a $2,500 bond.
Craig Jaccuzzo, director of University Police, said he received an anonymous tip that a La Maison du Bayou resident was allegedly taking large amounts of textbooks from the bookstore and had them in his closet.
Jaccuzzo said that University Police received permission from Duplantis to search his property. According to University Police, the search revealed that Duplantis had in his possession a Dell computer valued at $675, 20 textbooks from the University Bookstore valued at more than $1,000, a book bag valued at $60, a faculty parking tag valued at $50 and three packets of CDs valued at $30.
“Duplantis was arrested after we recovered the stolen property,” Jaccuzzo said. “He said he was taking them (textbooks) for future classes he may need.”
According to Jaccuzzo, Duplantis allegedly began stealing the items during the summer.
Jaccuzzo said that Duplantis allegedly stole the faculty parking tag from a student life employee’s desk.
Duplantis has been a student worker in the chemistry, geography, history and biology faculty offices from which the computer was taken, as well as the bookstore and student life office, Jaccuzzo said.
Duplantis has been referred to judicial affairs for administrative discipline, and he was arrested through the criminal system; therefore, he is being processed through both the University and criminal systems, Jaccuzzo said.
“The discipline board will hear his case and give him the right of due process,” Jaccuzzo said.
University Police is searching the hard drive on the stolen computer for any information as part of its investigation, Jaccuzzo said. All other property recovered by University Police was returned to the rightful owner.
“If anybody has been given any property from Duplantis, bring it to the police department so that we can verify that it is not stolen,” Jaccuzzo said.
