Protective order request dismissed

After accusing Estherwood Mayor Anthony Borill and Acadia Parish Police Jury President Julie Borill of harassment following an alleged months-long intimate relationship with the couple, petitioner John Wesley Brown seemed to wilt under the questioning of Crowley attorney Lyle Fogleman Wednesday morning, resulting in the cases against both being dismissed.
At the outset of the trial, Hearing Officer Gale J. Luquette advised both sides that the hearing was being recorded and any admission to other crimes could be followed up by charges from the District Attorney’s office.
He also told Brown that under Louisiana law, for a person to receive a protective order they must fall under one of three categories — the first being a person seeking protection from a family member; the second being a person seeking protection from a former dating partner; and the last being a person seeking protection from a person who was neither a dating partner or a relative from whom the petitioner feels threatened.
Brown, who had formerly admitted to being a male escort who worked for an agency, said that he had originally met the Borill’s through an ad on Craigslist on May 18, 2013. As he began to produce a picture he claimed the Borills sent to him Fogleman protested.
“Your honor, what does this picture have to do with anything,” he said. “Mr. Brown needs to show proof that he was being harassed by my clients.”
Brown then moved forward to Jan. 7 of this year when he claimed that his boss called him into his office stating that he had received a phone call from a man Brown said was Anthony Borill.
He said the caller claimed to have a suggestive picture of Brown.
“My boss told me that these calls had to stop,” he said.
“Did your boss tell you that the person who called was Anthony Borill?,” asked Fogleman to which Brown responded, “No.”
“Is your boss here today?” asked Fogleman.
“No sir,” responded Brown.
Fogleman then stated, “I don’t understand, you’re testifying about a phone call from a person you can’t identify to a person who isn’t here.”
Brown then produced a series of angry text messages from Anthony Borill, one of which suggested he “stop texting and face me like a man.”
Before responding with questions about the text, Fogleman asked if there were any threatening texts or messages that came from Julie Borill.
“No, I have texts but I was never threatened by Julie,” Brown responded.
Luqette then dismissed the harassment charges against Julie Borill, telling Brown that he must show that a relationship existed between him and Anthony Borill for any charges against Anthony Borill to proceed.
“Without Julie in the room you must prove that there was a relationship between you and Mr. Borill,” he said.
An aggressive Fogleman got Brown to contradict himself by answering both “yes” and “no” to questions as to whether there was a sexual relationship with Anthony Borill, and whether he worked for an agency.
When Brown answered “no” to the question as to whether he worked for an agency, Fogleman pointed out that he had claimed such in his complaint and stated that he “doesn’t see why anyone should believe anything this man says.”
“Sometimes I tell them what they want to hear,” said Brown.
Luquette then pointed out that since Brown was never harmed and that he was still employed by the same company, that he was throwing out the remaining claim against Anthony Borill.
“Mr. Fogleman, if the petition for a protective order against your client is dismissed, would he, without admitting anything, agree to an cease any communication with Mr. Brown,” asked Luquette, stating that he was going to issue an injunction prohibiting Anthony Borill from contacting Mr. Brown.
“Your honor, I am very reluctant to have my clients leave this room with a gray cloud over their heads,” responded Fogleman. “No irreparable harm has been done to Mr. Brown.”
Luquette agreed with Fogleman that Brown’s charges did not meet the requirements that justified a protective order.
“Mr. Brown has failed to show any sufficient proof that he was being harassed or threatened,” he said.
Brown, in a statement made following the morning hearing, said, “Justice has not been served. I feel the 15th Judicial Court did not give me the correct paperwork. I was never told that I had to prove that I had a relationship with Anthony.”