Fourth-Time Felony Offender Gets 80 Years Without Parole in St. Tammany Fentanyl Case

A Bogalusa man has been sentenced to 80 years in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted in a St. Tammany Parish fentanyl trafficking case and later adjudicated as a fourth felony offender.

Prosecutors said James Spikes Jr., 48, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 36 in Covington, where investigators recovered 963 fentanyl pills weighing approximately 135 grams. Authorities also reported finding brass knuckles and a pocketknife during the stop.

During the trial, jurors heard evidence that included undercover recordings in which prosecutors said Spikes discussed obtaining large quantities of fentanyl pills. A St. Tammany Parish jury ultimately found him guilty of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and carrying a concealed weapon as a convicted felon.

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Following a habitual offender hearing, the court determined Spikes qualified as a fourth felony offender under Louisiana law. He was sentenced to 80 years at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

District Attorney Collin Sims credited prosecutors and the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, saying his office remains committed to targeting fentanyl trafficking because of the danger it poses to the community.