The sentence for a Lafayette man who pleaded guilty for his part in a 2019 fatal shooting at a 5th Avenue apartment complex will stand.

Originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Paulden James Lewis, Brandon Jerome Jefferson — one of five arrested in the case — pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and was sentenced in 2022 to serve 38 years at hard labor. His motion for the trial court to reconsider that sentence was denied on Jan. 19.

Lake Charles Police Lt. Jeffrey Keenum told the American Press at the time of Jefferson’s arrest that officers received a report of a shooting at the Fairview Crossing Apartments on Oct. 1, 2019. Upon arrival, they discovered Lewis had been shot. He was transported to a local hospital and succumbed to his injuries the next day.

In his filing with the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal, Jefferson claimed his attorney “gave misleading information” by advising him that a sentence of less than 38 years would be imposed.

The appeals panel denied the claim, stating the evidence necessary to decide ineffective assistance of counsel is not in the record.

Jefferson “was properly charged in an indictment,” the court wrote. “He was present and represented by counsel at all crucial stages of the proceedings. He entered an unqualified guilty plea, and that plea was freely and voluntarily entered after he was advised of his rights.”

Jefferson “was charged with first-degree murder, which is punishable by life imprisonment, and entered an open-ended plea of guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter,” the court continued. “In essence, (Jefferson) pled guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter in exchange for a sentencing cap of 40 years and the dismissal of the first-degree murder charge. An argument for excessive sentence on this conviction is unnecessary considering that (Jefferson) was subject to a mandatory life sentence prior to the entry of his plea.”