Jerry Joseph Larpenter is the former sheriff and tax collector of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. In August 2016, it was reported that Larpenter's deputies raided the residence of a local anti-corruption blogger on criminal defamation charges after posts examining the business relationships of local parish politicians.[1][2] The anti-corruption blogger claimed that an insurance contract for parish government was awarded without going through a public bid process and without a required ordinance.[3] Local newspaper The Daily Comet pointed out that Larpenter's wife is employed by the same insurance business.[4]
On August 25, 2016, the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals quashed the search warrant use in the raid of the anti-corruption blogger because the warrant lacked probable cause of a criminally actionable offense.[5]
In July 2017, a judge for the US District Court in Louisiana handed down a ruling that strips Larpenter of immunity in the lawsuit brought against him by the local anti-corruption blogger for violating her rights.[6][7]
In August 2017, Larpenter settled the civil suit filed against him by the local anti-corruption blogger, who had previous received $50,000 from Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove for his role in the case.[8][9]
In March 2019, Larpenter announced that he would not seek re-election, leaving office at the end of his term in June 2020.[10]
A political opponent previously accused Larpenter of using parish government money for personal expenses, such as hunting trips.[11]