Former Monroe City Schools Superintendent Brent Vidrine was arrested and booked into the Ouachita Parish jail on Friday, marking his second arrest related to alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as superintendent.
Friday’s arrest stems from an October 2024 grand jury indictment that modified charges originally filed against Vidrine in July 2024. The indictment replaced a theft charge with “unauthorized use of a movable,” necessitating a new booking process despite reported objections from Vidrine’s legal team.
According to legal experts, the substitution of charges represents a strategic shift by prosecutors. “Unauthorized use of a movable is typically easier to prove than theft,” said a local attorney familiar with similar cases. “Prosecutors only need to demonstrate that something was taken or moved without permission, whereas theft requires proving the intent to permanently deprive the owner.”
Vidrine’s legal representatives had reportedly argued against the necessity of a second arrest four months after the initial booking, maintaining that the accusations fundamentally remained the same. Despite these objections, authorities proceeded with Friday’s booking.
In November 2024, a 4th District Court order from Judge Scott Lehy ordered that the bond from Vidrine’s original charges be transferred to cover the new charges, allowing for his prompt release.
Following his release Friday afternoon, Vidrine’s booking information was removed from the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office website, though numerous individuals had already viewed and downloaded the information.
The case against the former superintendent has been developing since September 2023, when the Monroe City School Board launched an investigation into “financial improprieties” allegedly connected to Vidrine’s retirement arrangements. The board subsequently notified both the District Attorney’s office and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor about their concerns.
In March 2024, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor released findings that detailed allegations of false documentation and unauthorized actions by Vidrine during his time as superintendent.
Vidrine’s initial arrest on July 4, 2024, included charges of filing or maintaining false public records, malfeasance in office, and theft. His arraignment was originally scheduled for August 13, 2024.
On October 21, 2024, a grand jury in the Fourth Judicial District formally indicted Vidrine on five felony charges, adjusting the original accusations. The indictment dropped the theft charge and added unauthorized use of a movable. Two days later, his arraignment was rescheduled due to discrepancies between the arrest charges and the indictment.
Vidrine served as superintendent of Monroe City Schools from 2013 until his retirement.
