On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, The Ouachita Citizen reported that Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Wendell Manning recused himself from presiding over a criminal case involving former Monroe City Schools Superintendent Brent Vidrine. This decision follows the earlier recusal of Fourth Judicial District Attorney Steve Tew from the same case.
Brent Vidrine was indicted by a grand jury on five felony charges, including two counts of filing false public records and two counts of malfeasance in office, in addition to one count of unauthorized use of a movable. Vidrine’s tenure as superintendent lasted from June 2013 until February 2024, when he was placed on administrative leave amid allegations concerning misappropriated funds.
A state Legislative Auditor’s investigation uncovered that Vidrine submitted falsified documents to the Monroe City School Board regarding the purchase of creditable service from the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana during the years 2021 and 2022. The inquiry revealed that he improperly received an additional $20,000 through these altered documents, which he was not entitled to.
In October 2024, a Ouachita Parish grand jury issued a true bill against Vidrine, though he was arrested on charges of felony theft, the grand jury did not pursue that indictment. According to an arrest warrant dated July 3, 2024, Vidrine altered a document related to the Teachers’ Retirement System from an amount of $47,422.71 to $67,422.71, leading to the unauthorized funds.
Judge Manning’s recusal comes after he acknowledged his previous connections with the law firm representing Vidrine, Breithaupt, DuBos & Wolleson, as well as a personal relationship with the defendant. In a recusal order dated January 21, Manning stated that he had consulted this firm for legal matters concerning himself and his farm, and noted that he and his family share close ties with Vidrine.
Following Tew’s recusal, the case was assigned to the state Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division on July 17, with Assistant Attorney General Darwin Miller taking on the role of prosecutor. Miller, who has a history with Tew, previously served as an assistant district attorney in Tew’s office.
The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court is expected to reassign Vidrine’s case to another criminal section within the Fourth Judicial District Court. A hearing previously scheduled for Vidrine has been postponed to May 14, allowing the defense additional time to examine new documents related to the case.
Source: The Ouachita Citizen
