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January 24, 2025A sentencing hearing was held on January 6, 2025 before the Honorable Keith R.J. Comeaux on defendant, Nathan Simon, who was convicted unanimously on October 17, 2024 by a St. Martin parish jury for first degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder.
After a sentencing hearing and argument of counsel, the defendant was sentenced to serve life imprisonment without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence for the first degree murder of Roxanne Hawthorne, forty (40) years at hard labor for the attempted first degree murder of Jennifer Simon, and forty (40) years at hard labor for the attempted first degree murder of Charles Young. Said sentences were ordered to be served consecutive with one another.
This case involved the defendant, Nathan Simon, breaking into his in-laws home in the early morning hours of November 9, 2020, where he threatened his estranged wife, Jennifer, with a firearm and subsequently shot her in the leg. Jennifer’s mother, Roxanne Hawthorne responded to Jennifer’s screams. When Roxanne entered the room, Simon shot her multiple times. Her stepfather, Charles Young, was also shot when he attempted to come to their aid.
Roxanne died as a result of her wounds. Jennifer and Charles were both admitted to the hospital but survived and testified at the trial in this matter.
Please seek help if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence. Contact your local law enforcement agency or family violence crisis center. In St. Mary, Assumption, Iberia, and St. Martin Parishes, Chez Hope assists victims of domestic violence; their crisis hotline number is 1-888-411-1333 and their website is www.chezhope.org.
Assistant District Attorney Alister Charrier prosecuted the case with assistance from Halee Maturin. The case was investigated by the Breaux Bridge Police Department with assistance from the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory and the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.
