Avoyelles man convicted of kidnapping in missing person case

Chadwick McGhee was found guilty Wednesday of simple kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of a Simmesport woman missing since last September.
McGhee, 25, of Simmesport was on trial for second-degree kidnapping. The jury returned the guilty verdict on a reduced charge.
District Attorney Charles Riddle III said his office is considering whether to seek sentencing of McGhee as a “habitual offender,” which could significantly increase the length of his sentence.
Simple kidnapping alone carries a possible sentence of five years in prison. Sentencing will be August 12.
McGhee is one of five people charged in connection with the disappearance of Jessica Guillot, 21, of Simmesport, missing since Sept. 7, 2013.
Riddle said his office was always confident that the “evidence was clear that the defendant was one of the individuals involved” in the kidnapping and disappearance of Ms. Guillot.
The other four suspects in the case are: Asa Bentley, 24; Tamika Williams, 31; Donnie Edwards, 21; all of Simmesport, and Willie Price Jr., 22, of Baton Rouge.
Riddle said the other suspects will go to trial in September or November. A decision on the order of their trials has not been made.
Laura Stelly, Guillot’s mother, last saw her at about 8:30 p.m. on September 6 as her daughter left the home on foot. Ms. Stelly said last year that suspect Asa Bentley, who is known to the family, “indicated that there was an issue with Jessica on the night she disappeared, but he said he didn’t know where she was."