GONZALES — Gonzales Police officers arrested the Ascension Parish Chief Deputy Assessor, Justin B. Champlin, for alleged malfeasance while in office.
Champlin, 45, who has since resigned from his position of the Ascension Chief Deputy Assessor, was arrested on April 23, 2024 for malfeasance, two counts of computer tampering and two counts of injuring public records.
UWK has learned that Champlin, of Geismar, allegedly used his position to change his own tax assessed values on his personal property for two years. Once he learned an investigation was underway, Champlin resigned from the position.
On April 17, 2024, Gonzales Police officers were notified that an internal audit of the Ascension Parish Assessor’s Office indicated possible malfeasance by Champlin. The alleged malfeasance was while Champlin was serving as the Chief Deputy Assessor, according to the audit.
GPD started investigating the alleged actions against Champlin while he was in office. Champlin started with the Ascension Parish Assessor’s Office in 2012.
During the investigation, GPD says their “detectives were able to establish that Champlin tampered with the tax assessed values on his personal property.”
A warrant was signed by an Ascension Parish judge and he was arrested on April 23, 2024.
The case will now head to the District Attorney’s office for review and potential prosecution.
A booking photo was not provided due to Act No. 494, which places restrictions on mugshots released to the media for most offenses with exceptions for certain violent crimes.
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