ST. CHARLES, La. — St. Charles Parish President Larry Cochran was charged with impaired driving Friday after he failed to complete a diversion program, according to The New Orleans Advocate.
The program has kept him from being prosecuted since his arrest in Kenner in September 2017.
Cochran could face jail time and fines if convicted.
Cochran was stopped near his secretary’s home on Sept. 2, 2017 after deputies received a call that his vehicle was swerving and going into the neutral ground on Joe Yenni Blvd.
An officer who stopped Cochran said he performed poorly on a field sobriety test and had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. While the results of the breath test did not detect alcohol, it did show the presence of oxycodone, hydrocodone and oxymorphone. He was booked with counts of driving intoxicated and reckless driving.
He was released from jail soon after his arrest due to overcrowding.