Two Vernon Parish men have been formally charged for their actions in the attack on American Press newspaper carrier Woodie Blanks in December.

On Monday, the state filed Bills of Information with the 30th Judicial District Court, formally charging 32-year-old Douglas Paul James and 24- year-old Dillon Matthew James with one count each of second-degree battery for the Dec. 17 beating of Blanks, 67, as he was hand-delivering a newspaper to the door of a customer.

Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright said he believes the charges fit the circumstances.

“Based on the information reviewed by my office in regards to this case, I do believe these charges are appropriate,” Lambright said.

The men will appear in court for the first time on Feb. 22 for their arraignment.

The incident occurred at about 3 a.m. in Rosepine, according to reports. Blanks said he had dropped off the newspaper at the homeowner’s door because the homeowner had mobility issues and could not easily make the walk down his driveway to his mailbox. Blanks said it was a request he had received many times, and had no problem stepping out into the cold that morning to assist the customer.

But as he turned to walk back to his waiting vehicle, he said he was confronted by a group of men who questioned him about what he was doing on the property. Blanks said he tried to explain, but was “blindsided” almost immediately and knocked to the ground.

“They kept hitting me,” Blanks recalled.

The homeowner was eventually able to call off the attackers, at which time Blanks was able to escape to his vehicle and leave the area, driving to Rosepine Police where he reported the incident.

The assault left him with serious injuries to his face and eyes. After multiple surgeries, Blanks has been told he may never regain full vision.

The incident has continued to affect the surrounding community, and Sheriff Sam Craft said he understands that emotional response.

“I have spoken many times with the victim’s family and I understand their feelings and concerns. It was a horrible thing that happened,” Craft told the American Press on Tuesday.

Both men have claimed the attack was in response to what they called a prowler that had been at the homeowner’s property in the days before the incident. Craft said they told investigators they wrongly believed Blanks was the prowler.

Craft said he is aware that some have questioned if the attack was racially motivated; Blanks is black and his attackers are white. He said he does not believe that race played a part in the attack.

“In our investigation there has been nothing whatsoever that has led us to believe this was racially motivated,” Craft said.

He also said he does not believe the men intended to kill Blanks.

Despite their arrest on Dec. 22, Douglas James and Dillon James’ mugshots were not released on social media and their names were not included in that week’s arrest report. Those omissions seemed to exacerbate the concerns of many that the incident was purposely being hidden in an effort to favor the men arrested. They had also been released on bail before information regarding their arrest was sent to the American Press. Craft insists those actions were made in an effort to calm the tensions that were rising over the incident.

“Leaving out their names and mugshots, that was my decision. I chose to do that because of the sensitive nature of the incident and because the investigation was ongoing. It still is,” Craft said.

Though he could not identify his attackers, Blanks said he distinctly remembers there were more than two people involved in the attack. Craft confirmed that Blanks had made those statements to detectives early in the investigation, and said that detectives are still working to identify any others involved.

“The men arrested gave us cooperating statements, but they would not provide any other names to us. We have not given up on that, though, and we are still working to identify anyone else involved — even if they are simply witnesses,” he said.

If convicted, the men face maximum penalties of fines not more than $2,000 each and imprisonment with or without parole for not more than eight years each.