Changes

In a special election for his newly-created judgeship held on October 4, 2003, Self, still a Democrat, defeated the Republican candidate, "Ted" Johnson, 18,962 (54.2 percent) to 16,035 (45.8 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042003/10042003_MultiParish.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/4/2003|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 25, 2014}}</ref>Self since switched his party registration to Republican.<ref name=voterportal/>

In a special election for his newly-created judgeship held on October 4, 2003, Self, still a Democrat, defeated the Republican candidate, "Ted" Johnson, 18,962 (54.2 percent) to 16,035 (45.8 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042003/10042003_MultiParish.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/4/2003|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 25, 2014}}</ref>Self since switched his party registration to Republican.<ref name=voterportal/>

Early in 2009, Judge Self sentenced three employees of the since disbanded Hope Youth Ranch, a rehabiliiation facility north of [[Minden, Luouisiana|Minden]] in connection with the death of 12-year-old Alexander Michael "Alex" Harris (1992-2005) of Haughton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=HARRIS&GSfn=Alex&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=2005&GSdyrel=in&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=91234332&df=all&|title=Alexander Michael Harris|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=June 11, 2017}}</ref> Anthony Lamar Combs (born June 1967) of Homer, Kelton Kyle Greenard (born June 1979) of Minden, and Arthur Henderson, II, of Cotton Valley received sentences of five years imprisonment at hard labor on two counts of [[negligent homicide]] and cruelty to a juvenile. All but three years were suspended, and both counts ran concurrently to avoid the defense's claim of [[double jeopardy]] under the [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]]. Harris died of hyperthermia while on a disciplinary run at the ranch. The three were also was ordered to perform four hundred hours of community service upon release along with two years of probation and the payment of a $1,500 fine plus court costs. “I’ve heard no remorse, and I’m going to make you put someone else above yourself." Self told the defendants in their trial by judge in October 2008. At the sentencing, Judge Self said that his "court takes very seriously its role in this matter. I had to look at the totality of the circumstances. We’re not just looking at acts, but omissions. I can’t change the events of that day, and I can’t bring Alex back," The case was prosecuted by former state Senator Jack Montgomery of Minden, who said he believed that the Harris family was satisfied with the sentence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcwd.com/gj/2009/briefs-2009-01-29.html|title=Three sentenced in HYR death|publisher=''The Homer (Louisiana) Guardian-Journal''|author=Michelle Bates|date=January 29, 2009|accessdate=June 11, 2017}}</ref>

Early in 2009, Judge Self sentenced three employees of the since disbanded Hope Youth Ranch, a rehabiliiation facility north of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in connection with the death of 12-year-old Alexander Michael "Alex" Harris (1992-2005) of Haughton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=HARRIS&GSfn=Alex&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=2005&GSdyrel=in&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=91234332&df=all&|title=Alexander Michael Harris|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=June 11, 2017}}</ref> Anthony Lamar Combs (born June 1967) of Homer, Kelton Kyle Greenard (born June 1979) of Minden, and Arthur Henderson, II, of Cotton Valley received sentences of five years imprisonment at hard labor on two counts of [[negligent homicide]] and cruelty to a juvenile. All but three years were suspended, and both counts ran concurrently to avoid the defense's claim of [[double jeopardy]] under the [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]]. Harris died of hyperthermia while on a disciplinary run at the ranch. The three were also was ordered to perform four hundred hours of community service upon release along with two years of probation and the payment of a $1,500 fine plus court costs. “I’ve heard no remorse, and I’m going to make you put someone else above yourself." Self told the defendants in their trial by judge in October 2008. At the sentencing, Judge Self said that his "court takes very seriously its role in this matter. I had to look at the totality of the circumstances. We’re not just looking at acts, but omissions. I can’t change the events of that day, and I can’t bring Alex back," The case was prosecuted by former state Senator Jack Montgomery of Minden, who said he believed that the Harris family was satisfied with the sentence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcwd.com/gj/2009/briefs-2009-01-29.html|title=Three sentenced in HYR death|publisher=''The Homer (Louisiana) Guardian-Journal''|author=Michelle Bates|date=January 29, 2009|accessdate=June 11, 2017}}</ref>

In 2011, Judge Self upheld the 90-day suspension of Phillip Vernon, a Bossier City police officer who escorted to jail the Bossier-Webster assistant district attorney, Charles Sherburne "Sherb" Sentell, III (born July 1966) of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], a maternal great-nephew of former Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]], after another officer in 2009 arrested Sentell for having manhandled Sentell's wife at a [[casino]]. Vernon accused Sentell of hurling profanity at him and threatening the officer's job during the trip to jail. Thereafter, Vernon was dismissed from the force after an internal police investigation concluded that Sentell did not make the threat. The municipal civil service board overturned Vernon's dismissal but upheld the suspension, and Judge Self concurred with that finding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/judge-won-t-clear-officer-s-record/article_81e0475c-b6a0-5b5e-8087-c6df684fc2b8.html|title=Judge Won't Clear Officer's Record|publisher=KTBS-TV|date=January 4, 2011|accessdate=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

In 2011, Judge Self upheld the 90-day suspension of Phillip Vernon, a Bossier City police officer who escorted to jail the Bossier-Webster assistant district attorney, Charles Sherburne "Sherb" Sentell, III (born July 1966) of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], a maternal great-nephew of former Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]], after another officer in 2009 arrested Sentell for having manhandled Sentell's wife at a [[casino]]. Vernon accused Sentell of hurling profanity at him and threatening the officer's job during the trip to jail. Thereafter, Vernon was dismissed from the force after an internal police investigation concluded that Sentell did not make the threat. The municipal civil service board overturned Vernon's dismissal but upheld the suspension, and Judge Self concurred with that finding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/judge-won-t-clear-officer-s-record/article_81e0475c-b6a0-5b5e-8087-c6df684fc2b8.html|title=Judge Won't Clear Officer's Record|publisher=KTBS-TV|date=January 4, 2011|accessdate=June 10, 2017}}</ref>