State trooper arrested on battery, domestic abuse charges

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A trooper with the Louisiana State Police is facing multiple charges after an investigation into domestic abuse allegations.

According to La. Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Office, James Jefferson III, 41, of Baton Rouge, was arrested Tuesday, March 31, on one count of aggravated second-degree battery, two counts of filing false public records, three counts of obstruction of justice, one count of domestic abuse battery in the presence of minors, and one count of domestic abuse battery by strangulation.

Officials said Jefferson is accused of multiple incidents of physical abuse in 2025, as well as directly influencing or interfering with law enforcement investigations associated with the abuse.

Jefferson was previously arrested on charges filed in the 19th Judicial District in February 2025 after being accused of an off-duty domestic violence incident.

According to the attorney general’s office, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation learned that Jefferson provided false information when filing records with the 19th Judicial District Court, along with statements provided during law enforcement’s investigation.

Officials said Jefferson also willingly destroyed evidence capturing the domestic abuse and lied to law enforcement when the domestic violence occurred.

Jefferson was booked in East Baton Rouge Parish. Bond has not been set.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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