Ex-fire chief pleads no contest in butt-slapping case

Former Fire Chief Mike Arnold appeared before City Judge Terry Hoychick a month earlier than scheduled, pleading no contest to a simple battery charge stemming from his allegedly slapping a volunteer firefighter on her buttocks.
Arnold was fired by the City Council on Jan. 14 on Mayor Rusty Moody’s recommendation. The basis of that recommendation was not stated in open session, but was apparently discussed in closed session.
Arnold was scheduled for a City Court appearance on Feb. 23 but instead was worked into the Jan. 26 docket, effectively avoiding the glare of media attention his case has attracted.
Hoychick sentenced Arnold to pay a $150 fine and $155.50 court costs and six months in jail, but suspended the fine and the jail time in favor of one year of unsupervised probation.
Additionally, Arnold was ordered to pay $150 to the Criminal Court Fund to defray cost of court operation and to complete five eight-hour days of community service by Feb. 26. The court did not specify the kind of community service.
The maximum penalty for simple battery is six months and $1,000.
The court minutes reflect sentencing occurred at 10:39 a.m. They do no reflect whether Arnold told the judge anything or whether he was asked anything prior to Hoychick accepting the plea.
Nor do the minutes reflect whether the plea was part of a negotiation between prosecution and defense, which is often the case.
No contest is not an admission of guilt though it is treated that way by the court.
It is sometimes a case of hedging bets against a civil action, some legal sources point out, different from an admission of guilt or a conviction.
The woman who Arnold allegedly slapped during a fire fighters’ appearance at a Eunice elementary school has retained an Opelousas attorney.
The next chapter in Arnold’s story will be Thursday at a called meeting of the Fire & Police Civil Service Board.
He has asked the board to hear an appeal of his firing. He contends his termination was outside the bounds allowed by the Fire Fighters’ Bill of Rights.
The board will discuss whether to do so, and if it agrees to, will set a date and time.
Coincidentally, another fire fighter matter is also on the board’s 14-item agenda.
Ryan Deville has asked the board to consider his re-hiring as Probational Fire/fighter Operator.
Deville left the department to pursue private employment.
Prior to that he and his brother Garrett, also a fireman, were charged, in July 2013, with felony battery after allegedly beating a man they thought was breaking into their vehicle and threatening him with a firearm. They were off duty at the time.
Their cases have yet to be taken to 27th Judicial District Court.