Teen killer seeking relief from life sentence

27th District Interim Judge Marion Edwards has under advisement a motion by an Opelousas man for relief from a life sentence he received for a murder he committed when he was 15.
Larry Sylvester, through his attorney Randy Wagley, among other things contends he had ineffective counsel when convicted 41 years ago.
Sylvester was convicted in April 1973 of a January 1973 murder committed at the direction of a 30-year-old accomplice.
He has contended in previous filings that he was unduly influenced by that man because of his young age and that that should be a factor in consideration of re-sentencing.
The state, through Asst. DA Jennifer Ardoin, contends Sylvester’s application is made far beyond the time allowed for such, that the ineffective councel argument is “misplaced and incorrect.”
The record indicates that Sylvester previously petitioned for relief in 1975 and in 1982 and was denied both times.
Since his incarceration, Sylvester has compiled an extensive dossier of positive inmate accomplishments.
Testifying at the September hearing on his motion, Sylvester recalls the early day of prison life as an inmate entering the adult system when he was almost 17.
“When I went into prison at 16 years, 11 months and five days of age, I had to defend myself as a many and I was constantly moving around, transferring me.
“I had to stay up many a night – like barbarians, that’s how they lived. The conditions were unconstitutional at the time,” he told Edwards.
According to the minutes, Sylvester said he entered the NORTS Grad Program for inmates in 1988.
“So up until then all of that time I am surviving and struggling, and didn’t get my GED until 1990. So my comprehension with what law was was not there.
“I was just surviving and trying to keep my head above the water,” Sylvester told Edwards in response to the state’s assertion of the allowable time for his motion having passed.
Edwards is awaiting briefs from both sides in the matter.