Former Port Allen mayor Derek Lewis died Thursday at 65, the West Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office confirmed.
Lewis died at around 7 p.m. Thursday at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, according to Sahajda “Doc” Willis, chief death investigator for the West Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office. The cause of death is currently undetermined.
In a Friday morning statement on the City of Port Allen’s Facebook page, Mayor Terecita Pollard Pattan said the city sends condolences to the Lewis family and asks for the community to “remain respectful and compassionate toward everyone impacted by this loss.”
“As a former elected Mayor of Port Allen, Mr. Lewis will remain a part of our city's history. At this time, we respectfully acknowledge his passing while keeping in our thoughts all families and members of our community who may be affected by this news,” Pattan said in the statement.
Lewis served as the Port Allen mayor from 2005 to 2011. In August 2025, he was arrested on one count each of indecent behavior with a juvenile and third-degree rape. Lewis was set to go to trial for these charges this week, according to court records.
Lewis stepped down as mayor in 2011 following racketeering and bribery charges brought against him after an FBI sting.