Convicted drug dealer Damien Bernard was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday in the overdose death of college student JonTerez Broussard.
Bernard, 27, of Arnaudville, was sentenced Wednesday morning before 15th Judicial District Judge Royale Colbert. Bernard was convicted in October of second-degree murder for selling the fentanyl-laced drugs that led to Broussard's accidental overdose and death.
Prosecutor Lance Beal said the District Attorney's office believes this is the first fentanyl murder prosecution in the state and the nation's first fentanyl murder case to get a life imprisonment sentencing.
"The distribution of fentanyl has completely destroyed two families' lives," Beal said. "This has ravaged all of our communities, and we need to be mindful of what we ingest and understand and educate how such a small dose of fentanyl can kill someone. We need to be proactive in educating our young ones on all the dangers of recreational drug use. A first-time user is no longer waking up with a bad hangover. It's leading to death now. And this sends a message to the people who are dealing that, as a community, this is something that will not be tolerated."
Broussard, a 20-year-old University of Louisiana at Lafayette student, purchased what she believed to be cocaine during a night out downtown with friends in October 2021. The substance was instead heroin and fentanyl, and Broussard died a week later after the drugs’ ingestion caused her to lose consciousness.
A Lafayette jury on Oct. 19, 2023, found Bernard to be guilty of second-degree murder after four days of evidence presentation from prosecutors Lance Beal, Roya Boustany and Cori Phelps. Evidence included testimony from the three friends who were with Broussard the night of the overdose, police investigators and scientists who analyzed evidence in the case like samples of Broussard’s blood and the drugs found at the scene.
Louisiana law requires anyone convicted of second-degree murder to be sentenced to life in prison without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.
Members of Broussard's family took the stand Nov. 13, which happened to be the young woman's birthday, to give victim impact statements for the judge's consideration ahead of sentencing.
Bernard's Nov. 13 sentencing was rescheduled after he hired a new lawyer who filed a motion to postpone the sentencing. Colbert said he would postpone the sentencing but allowed Broussard's family to make victim impact statements as planned, especially since one person had driven more than 1,000 miles to be in the courtroom.
Alleah Baca, who had driven in from New Mexico, spoke through tears on the witness stand in November about the special connection she had with her cousin.
"She was my twin," Baca said. "Wonder what she would have looked like at 23? Look at me."
Broussard's mom, dad, brother and sister also took the stand Monday to share how their lives have been forever changed by the young woman's death.
Bernard's family and friends did not address the court or share impact statements at the Nov. 13 court appearance.
Neither Broussard's nor Bernard's families spoke at Wednesday's sentencing.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has contributed to a rise in overdose deaths locally and nationally.
During a November hearing, Colbert said he doesn't know what the answer is to solving the fentanyl crisis in Lafayette, but he encouraged the Broussard family to continue the work they've done.
"I don't know the answer to the problem," Colbert said. "This ain't it right here. People on the north side of Lafayette aren't bringing fentanyl here."