The former head of the Baton Rouge area’s groundwater protection district and a parish parks agency official were indicted Wednesday on corruption charges involving contracts.
Gary Beard, 69, who until last month was director of the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation District, and Assistant Baton Rouge Parks Superintendent Oscar Reed Richard, 62, were both charged with contract conspiracy in restraint of trade, monopolizing trade and malfeasance in office.
Also charged was Samuel Jason Hewitt, 53, who was indicted on six counts, two each of the same charges as Beard and Richard. Hewitt is listed online as managing partner of infrastructure for the Arizona-based firm Sustainability Partners…