FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 18, 2022

DURING TRIAL, SLIDELL MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO HOME INVASION AND AGGRAVATED BATTERY

District Attorney Warren Montgomery reports that Brent Allen Hatten, age 45 of Slidell, Louisiana, pled guilty in the middle of trial on Thursday, March 17, 2022 to one count of home invasion and one count of aggravated battery.

In August of 2020, the Slidell Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, officers observed the front door of the residence open and heard loud screaming coming from inside. They found the defendant and the victim inside of the residence. Nunchucks were recovered from the defendant on scene and the victim had bruising consistent with being struck by nunchucks on her body. The victim told the police that the defendant entered into the residence and began swinging the nunchucks, striking her as well as items in the residence.

During the trial, the homeowner testified that she and the victim were walking her dog when the victim noticed the defendant, her ex-boyfriend, running up behind her. She testified that the victim stated “he’s going to kill me” and begged her to let her inside of the residence. She also testified that she attempted to unlock her door and let the victim in when the defendant pushed behind them and began attacking the victim inside of the residence. She immediately called the police.

The victim testified at trial that she and the defendant had previously been in a lengthy relationship but were not in a relationship at the time of this incident. She testified that the defendant ran up behind her and began swinging nunchucks inside of the residence, breaking a vase.

The defendant pled guilty in the middle of the trial, while the victim was still on the stand. The defendant has several prior convictions which include operation of a clandestine laboratory and simple burglary. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison by District Judge Vincent Lobello.

ADA Tiffany Dover prosecuted the case. The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank Officer Bowen Moeller and Sergeant Jake Morris from Slidell PD for investigating the case.