Shaqueta McDade withdraws guilty plea

CROWLEY - A bench trial for the Rayne woman whose four children died in a mobile home fire while she was reportedly out at a nightclub will begin on Aug. 4.

Shaqueta McDade, charged with four counts of negligent homicide in the deaths of her children, was back in 15th Judicial District Court last week.

McDade had entered a plea of “no contest” to the charges on Dec. 18, 2013. She was scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday when she changed her plea.

According to the Acadia Parish Clerk of Court’s office, McDade waived her right to a jury trial and will face a judge instead.

McDade, then 26, was arrested following an April 21, 2012, fire at her mobile home. Four of her children — Jamarie McDade, 8; Amous Mouton Jr., 7; Lashay McDade, 5; and Brian Steiner Jr., 2 — died in the blaze.

Her oldest child was not home at the time of the fire.