DONALDSONVILLE — An Ascension Parish jury found a 57-year-old man guilty of manslaughter in connection with the late 2025 death of a fellow inmate at the Ascension Parish Jail.

The verdict against Stacy Leblanc came Wednesday after prosecutors Philip Prescott and Blake Sheets presented the case before Judge Jason Verdigets. Leblanc was represented by attorney Matthew Ory.

Detectives with the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office responded to the jail on Nov. 30, 2025, after a battery was reported.

During inmate medication distribution, an argument broke out between Leblanc and 40-year-old Charlie Stafford of Gonzales. During the confrontation, Leblanc struck Stafford once with a closed fist, causing Stafford to fall and hit the back of his head on the concrete floor, knocking him unconscious.

Jail medical personnel and corrections officers provided aid before Stafford was transported to a nearby hospital where died from his injuries on Dec. 2.

Leblanc, who was already in custody for an unrelated matter, was then charged with manslaughter in connection with Stafford's death.

With the guilty verdict, sentencing has been deferred to a later date. Leblanc faces up to 40 years in state prison and is tentatively set to be sentenced Dec. 7.