Braxton Moody wants judge recused over burger flap

A man jailed last week for shooting the car of his ex-wife's boyfriend wants the judge removed from his case because of a disagreement years ago over competing burger businesses.

Braxton Moody IV, 66, was arrested and charged July 30 with drive-by shooting assault and aggravated criminal damage to property. He is accused of firing into a parked car belonging to Dr. J. Lee Leonard III of Lafayette.

On Monday, Moody's attorney Lawrence Billeaud of Lafayette filed a motion to remove Judge Rick Michot from the case.

In the court document, Billeaud wrote that Michot contacted Moody complaining that the Moody family's burger business broadcast a television commercial using Michot's music for background music without Michot's permission.

As a result, Billeaud wrote, the Moodys paid an unspecified amount of money to Michot and/ or his family for the use of the music.

During the telephone call, Billeaud alleged that Michot told Moody he wasn't happy the Moodys opened Burger King restaurants in Lafayette in competition with Burger Chef restaurants Michot's father owned.

Billeaud further alleged that Michot should be removed from the case because he is biased or prejudiced against Moody.

A hearing date for the motion to recuse Michot has not been set. Meanwhile, Moody will remain in the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center without bond.

In 2013, Leonard obtained a protective order against Moody who allegedly threatened to harm or kill him. Moody spent time in a mental health facility in 2013 and allegedly threatened Leonard while there.

Moody is from a prominent Acadiana family that owns a chain of small Louisiana newspapers and has had various other investments, including restaurants such as Coyote Blues and Outback Steakhouse. A business college at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is named after his father, B.I. Moody III.

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