Man charged with second degree murder qualifies for 5th Congressional District seat

BATON ROUGE, La. — A Louisiana man charged with second degree murder in 2008 and later convicted in 2014 has qualified to run for the 5th Congressional District seat that was left vacant after Congressman-elect Luke Letlow died late last year.

Errol Victor, Sr., 55, has qualified to run in the March 20 special election to fill the vacant seat in the 5th Congressional District.

According to Tyler Brey, a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s Office, Victor qualified by proxy to run for the position.

According to the St. John The Baptist Parish Clerk of Court, Victor was charged in 2008 with second degree murder while in the process of cruelty to a juvenile. Victor was then convicted on a 10-2 jury verdict and found guilty of second degree murder.

He was sentenced to life in prison at hard labor without the benefit of parole.

However, Victor’s conviction was overturned due to the Supreme Court ruling last year that juries in state criminal trials must be unanimous to convict a defendant.

According to the Department of Corrections, Victor is no longer a DOC inmate and was returned to the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office on July 14, 2020 to await trial following his conviction being overturned.

Brey said that Victor’s candidacy in the race can only be challenged by elected officials in that district and that he will be qualified until his candidacy is challenged and he is removed.

Qualifying ended Friday, which means that Victor’s candidacy can only be challenged until Friday, Jan. 29.

Other candidates qualifying for the 5th Congressional District seat are:

• Sandra “Candy” Christophe – Democrat
• Chad Conerly – Republican
• “Jim” Davis – No Party
• Allen Guillory – Republican (Lawtell)
• Jessica Honsinger Hollister -Democrat
• Robert Lansden – Republican
• Julia Letlow – Republican
• Jaycee Magnuson – Republican (Opelousas)
• Horace Melton III -Republican
• M.V. “Vinny” Mendoza – Independent
• Richard H. Pannell – Republican
• Sancha Smith – Republican (Opelousas)
• Errol Victor Sr. – Republican

A full list of qualified candidates in races across Acadiana can be found here.