A man with a nearly 20-year criminal history is wanted in Lafayette Parish in connection with two vehicle burglaries.
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant Friday for Thomas Fortinberry, 37, who has been out of prison less than a year after serving 10 years as an habitual offender.
His criminal history in Lafayette Parish dates back to 1995, according to documents in the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court Office.
In 1995, Fortinberry was charged with three counts of theft and one count of unauthorized use of a movable. The three theft charges were dismissed.
Fortinberry was sentenced in November 1996 to two years in prison for the unauthorized use of a movable. He was sentenced on other charges from 1995, including two counts of simple burglary, possession of Diazepam (Valium) and two counts of aggravated battery, for a total of six years.
According to Pam Laborde with the Louisiana Department of Corrections, Fortinberry served time in various Louisiana prisons from November 1996 through August 1999, when he was released on good time parole supervision.
In 1999, Fortinberry was charged with two counts of simple burglary, 14 counts of unauthorized use of an access card and one count of felony possession of a weapon. He was sent back to jail from December 1999 until June 2003, when he was released for good behavior, Laborde said.
In March 2004, he pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized use of an access card, according to Clerk of Court documents. Additional charges were dismissed, including two counts of theft, 2nd degree battery, simple robbery and one count of unauthorized use of an access card.
Fortinberry was incarcerated in June 2004. While he was serving jail time, the District Attorney’s Office, in January 2006, charged him as an habitual offender, turning a three-year sentence into 10 years. He was released in July 2014 on parole and was supervised until Feb. 7, Laborde said.
According to a May 6 Louisiana State Police news release, a Thomas Fortinberry, 37, of Youngsvile, was charged with one count of possession of stolen things in an investigation into various insurance fraud and auto theft crimes. Without a date of birth, The Daily Advertiser was unable to confirm Friday that this is the same Thomas Fortinberry.
If anyone has information on Fortinberry’ whereabouts, please contact the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-232-9211 or 337-236-5618.
