Failed Parish Sheriff Candidate Holds Agents At Gunpoint, Gets Arrested

ARCADIA, Louisiana — A frequent candidate for the Bianville Sheriff’s Office saw the other side of prison Thursday afternoon after being arrested on multiple charges, including threatening someone with a gun.

Bianville Township Sheriff John Balance said anchorman James Keith Bates, 63, was arrested along with his daughter and son-in-law for thwarting a vehicle seizure. The three reportedly held off two car leasing company representatives from leaving while Bates pointed a gun at them.

Bates was imprisoned in Bienville Parish Prison on two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and wrongful imprisonment (a criminal armed with a dangerous weapon) and one count of aggravated obstruction of a trade route.

His daughter and his son-in-law are facing similar charges. Hannah Bates-Taylor, 36, and Brian Lane-Taylor, 38, from Castor, were charged with two wrongful imprisonment charges.

Hannah Taylor has also been charged with minor property damage and two counts of minor bodily injury. And Brian Taylor has been charged with aggravated trade line obstruction.

The crash happened on Hickman Road in Castor on Monday. The Taylors were reportedly given 10 days’ notice to return the leased vehicle. Two people came to pick up the car. One was 65 and the other was 67. Hannah Taylor has been charged with stabbing one of hers in the forehead and her chest and grabbing the arm of another to prevent her from moving inside the lease vehicle. That led to a simple chain of confirmed charges, Balance said.

According to arrest records, Hannah Taylor crashed into a private car driven by one of them. Balance said Brian Taylor blocked one side of the highway to prevent them from getting off, but Bates did the same across the street, brandishing a gun.

Hannah Taylor and Brian Taylor were released after posting bail of $150,000 and $125,000 respectively. Bates’ bonds are priced at $175,000.

Bates ran for sheriff at least six times, but was unsuccessful.