Man gets manslaughter bond reduced in Alexandria shooting death, but weapons charge added

Bail for an Alexandria man accused in a March 27 homicide was reduced on Monday, but he also faces a federal weapons charge.

Derrick Dewayne Swafford was arrested on April 8 when he turned himself in to the Alexandria Police Department, which had been searching for him since a shooting on Orchard Street wounded him and killed another man, 24-year-old Jason Clovis.

He was arrested on a second-degree murder charge, but was formally charged with manslaughter. Because of the lesser charge, 9th Judicial District Court Judge Chris Hazel reduced Swafford's bond to $500,000 at his June 13 arraignment.

A bond reduction hearing was continued to Monday. After a conference with defense attorney Alfred Boustany II and Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Cespiva, Hazel further reduced Swafford's bail to $250,000.

Cespiva objected, saying Swafford had been out of jail on bond when the shooting happened. He called the 27-year-old dangerous, which prompted a woman in the gallery with Swafford's family to mutter, "He ain't dangerous."

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Boustany told Hazel that Swafford's family had cooperated with investigators by telling them where to find his Dodge Charger that police believe is evidence in the case.

"Sorta, judge," Cespiva replied.

He said he would be filing a motion to amend the bill of information against Swafford, adding a felony charge of firearm possession by a felon. The motion was filed late Monday.

After the hearing was finished, Swafford was escorted out by a bailiff. But a woman approached and got Hazel's attention.

She identified herself as the grandmother of Swafford's child and asked if the child could see his father "just for a minute."

"No m'am," Hazel replied, saying it is not policy to allow courtroom visits with defendants.

Swafford has a pretrial conference hearing set for July 20.