[StBernard] Slidell man jailed as a teen for a St. Bernard burglary spree is booked with 11 Metairie break-ins

[Westley Annis]

Slidell man jailed as a teen for a St. Bernard burglary spree is booked with
11 Metairie break-ins
by Michelle Hunter, The Times-Picayune 
Tuesday September 01, 2009, 6:29 PM

A Slidell man who spent time in prison for leading a teen-age burglary ring
15 years ago in St. Bernard Parish has been up to his old tricks, according
to authorities, who arrested him last week for a string of house burglaries
in Metairie. 

Steven Bozant Jr., 32, of 1020 Pelican St., was booked with 11 counts of
simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling and a slew of other charges related
to the break-ins, which occurred between June and August, according to
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office arrest and incident reports. 


Authorities said Bozant once again enlisted help for his latest crime spree,
and they are seeking arrest warrants for his cohorts, according to Sgt.
Larry Dyess, spokesman for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. Dyess did
not release the names of the other suspects. Detectives, who are still
investigating the case, believe Bozant may have more victims. 

"He may be facing additional charges," Dyess said. 

Bozant was taken into custody Thursday in the 900 block of Vouray Drive in
Kenner, according to the arrest report. During questioning by Detective
Stanley Brown, Bozant admitted to the break-ins, telling investigators that
he and the other suspects would kick down the doors of target homes and loot
them of property, including jewelry, handguns and electronic equipment,
according to reports. 

Records were not available for all of the break-ins, but Bozant is accused
of the following Metairie burglaries:


June 12 in the 4400 block of Jeannette Drive. 
June 15 in the 2100 block of Division Street. 
June 15 in the 4300 block of N. Woodlawn Avenue. 
June 22 in the 1500 block of Nursery Avenue. 
July 13 in the 5900 block of Loraine Street. 
July 21 in the 3600 block of Lime Street. 
Aug. 4 in the 4200 block of Woodlawn Avenue. 
Aug. 4 in the 1400 block of Wisteria Drive.  

Bozant is also accused of using credit cards and checks stolen during the
burglaries during spending sprees at local home improvement stores, grocery
stores and restaurants. A search of his Slidell home turned up some of the
property reported stolen, the arrest report said. 

Bozant was arrested in 1994 at the age of 17 by the St. Bernard Parish
Sheriff's Office. Officials said he organized a burglary ring that included
two other 17-year-olds, two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old. Together, the
teens stole at least $50,000 worth of property in 11 break-ins in Chalmette
and Arabi.

Court records weren't immediately available Tuesday, but Bozant was
sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1996 after pleading guilty to "several"
of the burglaries, according to Steve Cannizaro, spokesman for the St.
Bernard Sheriff's Office. 

In addition to the most recent burglary charges, Jefferson Parish
authorities also booked Bozant last week with possession of derivatives of
coca leaves, theft greater than $500, five counts of forgery, two counts of
credit card fraud and theft by unauthorized use of a credit card. 

Bozant could not be reached for comment. He was being held Tuesday at the
Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna in lieu of a $310,000 bond.