MONROE — A Louisiana District Attorney’s office has filed a motion asking the judge presiding over the murder trial of Quinton Tellis to step aside, citing alleged bias and personal animosity toward the prosecution.
The motion, filed Oct. 27 by Assistant District Attorney Holly Jones under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 671A and B, claims Judge Larry Jefferson is unable to conduct a fair and impartial trial. Tellis is accused in the 2016 death of Meing Chen Hsaio.
Tellis is also the main suspect in the 2014 burning death of Jessica Chambers in Panola County, Mississippi. He was tried twice in that crime and the trials resulted in two hung juries. At this point it is unclear if Mississippi prosecutors will try him a third time.
Court records show the Louisiana case has been pending since July 7, 2016, with multiple trial dates set and rescheduled over the years, including dates in 2022 and a scheduled trial of Dec. 1, 2025.
In the motion, the State points to the judge’s prior rulings in other criminal cases as evidence of bias, noting several instances where appellate courts overturned the judge’s decisions. Among the cases cited were:
- State v. Barnett: The court downgraded a second-degree murder conviction to manslaughter and scheduled sentencing before appellate review, prompting multiple interventions from higher courts.
- State v. Thomas: The judge acquitted a defendant of kidnapping and armed robbery charges despite DNA evidence, according to the State.
- State v. Nabors: A jury verdict of second-degree murder was later modified by the judge to negligent homicide; appellate courts eventually reversed the ruling.
The motion also alleges that the judge has exhibited personal animosity toward the Assistant District Attorney, citing accusations in court of acting in “bad faith,” public admonishments, and other actions said to humiliate prosecutors during hearings. The State claims such behavior could influence the outcome of Tellis’ trial.
In response, the court denied the motion, arguing that the State presented no evidence of bias or prejudice, and that prior cases cited by the State are unrelated to the Tellis case. The judge also noted that the motion was filed well beyond the 30-day period allowed under Louisiana law for recusal motions, as the last substantive ruling in the case was issued in October 2022.
The court further criticized the motion, stating that the Assistant DA’s prior conduct in the courtroom, including interruptions, arguing after rulings, and other procedural issues, contributed to tension in the courtroom. The judge emphasized that his directive to check on Tellis’ transfer from Mississippi, cited by the State, does not constitute grounds for recusal.
“Any ruling in prior cases does not constitute a basis for recusal in this matter,” the court wrote in its ruling denying the motion.
The Tellis trial is set to continue in the Fourth Judicial District Court in Ouachita Parish, with the next court date scheduled for Dec. 1, 2025.
