Sulphur, Louisiana - A Sulphur man’s 2024 second-degree murder conviction and life sentence have been overturned after a state appeals court ruled that the trial judge improperly denied a defense challenge to a prospective juror during jury selection.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeal on Wednesday reversed the conviction and sentence of Erron Ellis Fontenot, now 26, who had been found guilty in the 2023 shooting death of James Barrilleaux on Sherry Street in Sulphur, Louisiana.

Fontenot had been serving a mandatory life term in state prison following his July 2024 sentencing, but the appellate decision sends the case back to district court and effectively vacates both the guilty verdict and the life sentence.

Background Of The Case

Fontenot, of Sulphur, was convicted of second-degree murder in connection with the 2023 shooting, in which Barrilleaux was shot in the head and later pronounced dead at a hospital.

On July 26, 2024, Judge Robert Wyatt sentenced Fontenot to life in prison without the possibility of parole, which is the mandatory sentence under Louisiana law for second-degree murder.

Following the conviction, Calcasieu Parish District Attorney Stephen Dwight publicly praised the outcome, emphasizing that the sentence removed what he described as a dangerous offender from the community.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Joey Williams and Jordan Sutterfield of the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office, who secured the jury’s guilty verdict that led to the life sentence.

Appeals Court Cites Juror Impartiality Concerns

In its February 2026 update on the case, the Third Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that the trial judge erred when he refused a defense request during jury selection to dismiss a potential juror.

The juror at issue was challenged based on concerns about her ability to remain impartial. According to the appellate ruling, the trial judge denied the defense challenge for cause, allowing the juror to remain, which the court later found to be improper.

Juror impartiality is a core requirement in criminal trials. During voir dire—the jury selection process—prosecutors and defense lawyers question potential jurors to determine whether they can fairly consider the evidence and follow the law. If a juror shows possible bias, either side may ask the judge to excuse that juror “for cause,” meaning for a specific legal reason such as partiality.

The appeals court concluded that the judge’s refusal to dismiss the juror in question violated Fontenot’s right to a fair and impartial jury. Because of this error, the court reversed both Fontenot’s conviction and his life sentence.

What The Ruling Means Going Forward

The appellate decision does not acquit Fontenot or dismiss the charge. Instead, it vacates the earlier verdict and sentence and returns the case to the trial court for further proceedings, which could include a new trial.

Prosecutors in Calcasieu Parish retain the option to retry Fontenot on the second-degree murder charge, seek a plea agreement, or consider other legal strategies, depending on how the case proceeds. The appellate ruling did not address the strength of the evidence presented at trial, focusing instead on the legal error during jury selection.

Prior Statements From Prosecutors

At the time of sentencing in 2024, Dwight framed the case as a significant public safety outcome for Calcasieu Parish, emphasizing the life sentence as necessary to protect the community.

The prosecution team, led by Williams and Sutterfield, had been credited with securing what was then described as a permanent removal of Fontenot from the streets. The appellate court’s decision now reopens the case and may require prosecutors to present their evidence again to a new jury selected under closer scrutiny of juror impartiality.

In practical terms, the court’s decision highlights how an error made before the first witness testified—during the questioning of potential jurors—can undo an entire trial, including a mandatory life sentence.

While the shooting death of Barrilleaux and the community impact of the crime remain unchanged, the legal status of Fontenot’s conviction has now shifted, and the case returns to the trial level for the next phase in the criminal process.