Man questioned about child murder could be facing life term for running from police Play Video

By CHRIS REDFORD credford@ktbs.com

Posted: Sep 30, 2009 5:12 PM
Updated: Sep 30, 2009 10:52 PM

 The charge had to do with running from the police, but it had a big side issue: The murder of a child.

 As Chadward Welch entered his guilty plea this week to aggravated flight from an officer, the prosecutor stood at the other end of the table in Caddo District Court and told Judge Craig Marcotte his office was keeping its options open on whether to ask that Welch be sentenced as an habitual offender -- a classification that could send the 29-year-old to prison for life.

 That decision "depends on what information he gives to the district attorney," the judge said into the record.

  The option held by the D.A. is linked to Welch's cooperation in an open murder case: The death of 9-year-old Treveon Hunter, who was killed two years ago in a drive-by shooting aimed at his uncle. The uncle was wounded but survived.
 
  Welch, of West Caperton Street, has been questioned about his involvement in the shooting but has not been charged. Authorities said he has denied any involvement.

 "The deal I was willing to make with him is, 'I will listen to what you have to say and I will investigate it,"  Assistant District Attorney Lea Hall said of his option on an habitual-offender sentence. "If I find it to be truthful and useful, I may not multi-bill you" and seek a life term.

  If Welch admits he was involved -- which Hall doesn't expect he will do -- .. he'll still be prosecuted, Hall said. The charge could be open to negotiation.

  "He's not going in there and being given immunity," Hall said. "He's just going to have impress me with the truthfulness and usefulness of what he has to say."

  Welch's case is the first one brought to court by the Caddo district attorney's new Special Investigations Section, which is reactivating unsolved major cases and looking at alternative ways to prosecute suspects. They are concentrating on murder cases where there is not enough evidence to take the case to trial.

  "If these folks commit a different crime, we're going to go after them 100 percent and try to get them taken down that way," Hall said.

  Welch's prior convictions are possession of drugs and attempted possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, Hall said.

 Welch pleaded guilty on Tuesday to fleeing from a police officer who was trying to stop him for a traffic violation. The chase wound through part of Shreveport's Queensborough neighborhood before Welch crashed into a utility pole. Video from the pursuing police car shows Welch get out of the car and flee. Officers were unable to catch him. He later surrendered.

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