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APRIL 2004 NEWS |
OYSTER FISHERMEN CITED FOR TAKING OYSTERS FROM UNLEASED
STATE WATER BOTTOMS IN ST. BERNARD PARISH
ST. CHARLES PARISH BOATER ARRESTED FOR D.W.I.
JEFFERSON PARISH MEN ARRESTED FOR OUTBOARD THEFT
GUILTY PLEAS ENTERED FOR WATERFOWL VIOLATIONS
FOUR EVANGELINE PARISH MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO NIGHT HUNTING
FIVE CITED FOR TURKEY BAIT VIOLATIONS ON OPENING WEEKEND
SHRIMP PEDDLERS CITED IN ACADIA PARISH
THREE CITED WITH GILLNET AND SUSPECTED MARIJUANA IN
PLAQUEMINES PARISH
EIGHT CITED FOR HUNTING TURKEYS OVER BAIT MARRERO MAN ARRESTED FOR FELONY DWI PATTERSON MAN NETTED WITH UNDERSIZED BASS AGENTS AID IN RESCUE ON SHERBURNE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA GILL NET BUST MADE IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH ANGLERS CITED FOR VIOLATIONS ON POVERTY POINT RESERVOIR WEST CARROLL MEN CITED FOR NIGHT HUNTING VIOLATIONS WILDLIFE AGENT CITES RICHLAND PARISH MAN FOR GAME FISH
VIOLATIONS AT WOOLEN LAKE
OYSTER FISHERMEN CITED FOR TAKING OYSTERS FROM UNLEASED
STATE WATER BOTTOMS IN ST. BERNARD PARISH
Three men were cited on April 15 for alleged oyster violations. Gregory
Manuel Perez, 27, Louie Ray Guertin, 27, both of St. Bernard and Leonel
Hernandez Roman, 26, of Houma were all cited for taking oysters from
unleased state water bottoms.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
were on patrol near the newly formed state seed grounds in Lake Borne when
they saw a vessel dredging for oysters west of the seed ground. The area in
question contains private leases and unleased state water bottoms. Utilizing
the department's GPS, agents marked the location before boarding the
vessel. The location was found to be on unleased state water bottoms.
The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms is a fine
of up to $750, imprisonment for not more than 120 days, or both, plus courts
costs. Thirty sacks of oysters were seized and returned to the water.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Stephen McManus and Sgt. Bryan
Marie.
ST. CHARLES PARISH BOATER ARRESTED FOR D.W.I.
Agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement
Division arrested Jonathan P. Guillot, 20, of Gheens, on April 24, for
allegedly driving a motorboat while intoxicated. He was booked into the St.
Charles Parish Correctional Center.
Enforcement agents on boating safety patrol on Bayou Des Allemands in St.
Charles Parish, stopped Guillot's vessel to perform a boating safety
equipment inspection. During the inspection, the agents noticed that Guillot
appeared to be intoxicated. After performing poorly on several field
sobriety tests, he was arrested and taken to jail.
The penalty for a first conviction of operating a motorboat while
intoxicated is a fine of not more than $1,000 and imprisonment for not more
than six months.
Agents participating in the case were Senior Agents Eddie Skena and Jeff
Robinson.
JEFFERSON PARISH MEN ARRESTED FOR OUTBOARD THEFT
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
arrested two Jefferson Parish men on April 20 for the alleged theft of an
outboard motor. Paul S. Phillips, 27, and Lance S. Lacrosse, 19, both of
Lafitte, were charged with felony theft over $500. Both were booked into
the Jefferson Parish Corrections Center.
Agents on boating safety patrol in lower Jefferson Parish, near Bayou
Dupont, saw Phillips and Lacrosse removing a 150-horsepower Yamaha outboard
engine from a disabled vessel. The owner was contacted and told the agents
the boat had been disabled the day before and a salvage company had been
hired to recover the vessel. He had not given anyone permission to remove
his boat or engine. The engine was seized and will be held until it can be
returned to the owner.
Whoever commits the crime of theft when the misappropriation or taking
amounts to a value $500 or more shall be imprisoned, with or without hard
labor, for not more than ten years, or may be fined not more than $3,000, or
both.
Agents participating in the investigation were Sr. Agents Eddie Skena and
Jason Russo.
GUILTY PLEAS ENTERED FOR WATERFOWL VIOLATIONS
Two men identified as Shane Stelly, 33, of Kaplan, and Carl Abshire, 47, of
Abbeville, appeared before U. S. Magistrate Michael Hill in U. S. Magistrate
Court in the Western District of Louisiana in Lafayette and entered pleas
of guilty to taking over the limit of ducks. The men had been cited on
November 3, 2003, in Vermilion Parish.
Magistrate Hill accepted the guilty pleas and sentenced each to pay a fine
of $1,000, and placed them on supervised probation for one year with a
special condition of no hunting during the term of probation and to perform
20 hours of community service
The case was a result of a joint operation in which agents from the
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division and the
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service apprehended Stelly and Abshire in
Vermilion Parish with 26 ducks. The daily limit for ducks during the 2003/04
migratory waterfowl season was six per person.
Agents participating in the case were Lieutenant Glenn Angelle, Sgt. Edwin
Broussard, Senior Agents Aaron Monceaux, Kirby Henry, Kane Thomas and U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agents Bob Oliveri, Philip Siragusa, Bill
Mellor, Kash Schriefer, Stephen Clark, and Bob Johnson.
FOUR EVANGELINE PARISH MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO NIGHT HUNTING
Four Evangeline Parish men identified as Kenneth Jerome Lafleur II, 23,
Daniel Paul Mayeux, 18, Coby Lance Vidrine, 17, and Eric Bryce McDaniel, 18,
all of Ville Platte, pled guilty on April 8 in the 13th Judicial District
Court, and were sentenced by Judge Tom Fuselier. The four were cited on
January 18 of this year for hunting wild quadrupeds during illegal hours,
hunting from a moving vehicle and hunting from a public road. Additionally,
LaFleur was charged for hunting with an unplugged shotgun.
Judge Fuselier sentenced each subject to pay a $300 fine plus $121.50 in
court costs and to serve one year of probation with a stipulation of no
hunting during the term of probation and 16 hours of community service. In
addition to these charges Kenneth Jerome Lafleur was fined an additional
$150 for using an unplugged shotgun. Two shotguns seized in connection with
the case will be returned to the owners after all fees and fines are paid.
Agents involved in this case were Senior Agents Scott D. Fontenot and Keith
Aucoin. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Trent Brignac.
FIVE CITED FOR TURKEY BAIT VIOLATIONS ON OPENING WEEKEND
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited four men and a juvenile in Beauregard Parish during the opening
weekend of turkey season for allegedly hunting turkeys over baited areas.
On March 27, Anthony B. Cox, 48, of Sulphur, Richard D. Folds, 57, of
Longville, and Ronald C. Richard, 35, of Moss Bluff were cited for allegedly
hunting turkey over bait. Folds was additionally issued a civil restitution
summons for the value of a turkey gobbler he allegedly took over the baited
area. The restitution value of a turkey is $802.50 payable to the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The turkey was seized and donated to
charity.
On March 28, Dustin P. Jarrell, 23, of Sulphur and a 15 year old juvenile
were each cited for allegedly hunting turkey over a baited area. The
violation occurred on the Spring Branch Hunting Club near Longville.
The penalty for hunting turkey over a baited area is punishable by a fine of
up to $500, jail for up to 90 days, or both, plus court costs.
Agents participating in the cases were Lieutenants Jesse Savoie and Larry
Breaux, Sergeants Remy Broussard and David Sanford, and Senior Agents David
Liles, Scott Fontenot, Chris Harp, Joey James and Keith Aucoin.
SHRIMP PEDDLERS CITED IN ACADIA PARISH
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
have cited 10 persons for allegedly peddling shrimp without a retail
dealer's license, and eight of the 10 were additionally cited for allegedly
failing to maintain records of their transactions. .
Gary Delahoussaye, 33, Ronald J. Clement, 25, John P. Breaux, 25, and Harold
Thibodeaux, 55, all from Rayne, Ronnie Prudhomme, 24, Duson, Willard
Broussard, 29, Crowley, Nicole M. Hebert, 21, Lafayette, and Eddie Brown,
42, Opelousas, were each cited for selling and/or buying fish without a
retail seafood dealer's license and for failing to maintain purchase and
sales records. Michael A. Johnson, 43, Lafayette and Troy Anslem Sr., 45,
Campti, were cited for selling and/or buying fish without a retail seafood
dealer's license.
In February 2004, agents received a complaint that several unlicensed
persons were allegedly purchasing shrimp from Vermilion Gulf Seafood II in
Crowley and reselling the shrimp to consumers. Persons purchasing seafood
from wholesale retail dealers and reselling to the consumer are required to
have a valid retail seafood dealer's license and are required to maintain
purchase and sales records.
Enforcement agents seized sales records from Vermilion Gulf Seafood II and
after a two month investigation identified the 10 unlicensed retail dealers.
The penalties for selling and/or buying fish without a retail seafood
dealer's license and for failing to maintain records are fines of up to
$500, up to 90 days in jail, or both, plus court costs. These citations
were filed in the 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office in Acadia
Parish.
Agents participating in the investigation were Lieutenant Glenn Angelle,
Sergeants Robert Buatt, and Edwin Broussard, Senior Agents Kane Thomas,
Aaron Monceaux, and Kirby Henry, and Agent Donnie Leger.
THREE CITED WITH GILLNET AND SUSPECTED MARIJUANA IN
PLAQUEMINES PARISH
On March 30, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement
Division agents, in conjunction with the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's
Office, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, cited three men for
allegedly illegally possessing a saltwater gillnet in state waters. One man
was also cited for allegedly possessing marijuana.
Timothy Paul Cheramie, Sr. 39, Timothy Paul Cheramie Jr., 18, and Allen
Hess, 44, all of Venice, were cited after agents watched them retrieve an
1800-foot gill net from a remote marsh hiding place near Venice in
Plaquemines Parish. Agents flying in a U.S. Customs Service helicopter two
days earlier had spotted the net. Upon stopping the men, Timothy Paul
Cheramie, Sr. was also found to be in possession of a small amount of
suspected marijuana. The 1800-foot gillnet, and a 24-foot flatboat and motor
were seized in connection with the violation. The suspected marijuana was
sent to the Louisiana State Police crime lab for testing.
The penalty for the illegal use or possession of a saltwater gillnet is a
class six violation and carries a fine of up to $950, jail not more than 120
days, or both, plus court costs, and forfeiture of anything seized. The
criminal penalty for possession of marijuana, which is classified as a
Schedule I drug, is a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment in the parish
jail for more than six months, or both.
Participating in the investigation were Lt. Robert Martin, Sr. Agent Adam
Young, Agent Villere Reggio, USFWS Refuge Officer Michael Downie and PPSO
Marine Division Deputy Michael LeBouef.
EIGHT CITED FOR HUNTING TURKEYS OVER BAIT
Eight men were cited for alleged turkey bait and license violations in
Livingston and St. Helena parishes during the opening weekend of turkey
season.
Jimmy W. Varnado, 59, of Greensburg, Gauvin C. Theriot, 24, and Jimmy D.
Sullivan, 71, both of Houma, Robin D. Sullivan, 30, of Zachary, Lawson King,
31, Denham Springs, Justin M. Berthelot, 24, and Robert Majesty, Jr., 23,
both of Ponchatoula, were all cited in St. Helena Parish. Richard T.
McCrory, 47, of Livingston, was cited in Livingston Parish. All the men were
cited for allegedly hunting wild turkeys over bait. Hunting turkey over bait
carries a fine of up to $500, jail for not more than 90 days, or both, plus
court costs.
Lawson King was also cited for hunting without a basic hunting license,
hunting without a big game license, and hunting turkeys without a turkey
license. Justin Berthelot and Jimmy Varnado were also cited for hunting
turkeys without a turkey license. Each license violation is punishable by a
fine of $50 payable to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Agents participating in the cases were Lieutenant Len Yokum, Sergeants Grady
Brecheen and Henry Smith, Senior Agents Benji Morgan, Guy Adams, Britt
Forbes, Scott Bell, Dane Thomas, Toby Miller, and Billy Gomillion, and Agent
Joel Cromp.
MARRERO MAN ARRESTED FOR FELONY DWI
Agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement
Division arrested Joey P. Saluto, 37, of Marrero for allegedly operating a
motorboat while intoxicated. He was booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional
Center following the April 9 arrest.
LDWF Senior Agents Eddie Skena and Jason Russo were on boating safety patrol
on Bayou Segnette in Jefferson Parish when they stopped Saluto's vessel for
a boating safety compliance check. During the inspection, the agents
noticed that Saluto appeared to be intoxicated. He performed poorly on
several standardized field sobriety tests, and was arrested and charged with
violating RS 14:98 D, operating a motor vehicle or motorboat while
intoxicated, third offense.
The penalty for a third offense conviction for DWI is a fine of $2,000 and
imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than five years. In
addition, the vessel used during the violation is subject to forfeiture by
the court.
PATTERSON MAN NETTED WITH UNDERSIZED BASS
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
have cited a St. Mary Parish man for allegedly possessing undersized bass.
Kevin Adams, 31, of Patterson was cited on April 3, in Bayou Boutte after a
creel check revealed seven bass in his possession ranging from 11-1/2 inches
to 13 inches. The minimum size for bass in this area is 14 inches. The fish
were seized and donated to charity.
The possession of undersized bass carries a fine of up to $350, jail for not
more than 60 days, or both, plus court costs.
AGENTS AID IN RESCUE ON SHERBURNE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
responded to a call for assistance on April 3 on Sherburne Wildlife Management Area
to aid an accident victim.
David Jocobeit of Houston, Texas, a conductor for Union Pacific Railroad,
had fallen approximately 30 feet from a railroad trestle while checking
train cars. The responding agents transported Acadian Ambulance paramedics
to the scene, located in a remote area only accessible by four-wheel drive
vehicle. Jacobeit was then transported to an open area where Acadian's Air
Med Service airlifted him to a medical facility.
Agents participating in the rescue were Lt. Donald Salpietra and Sr. Agent Brad Guidroz.
GILL NET BUST MADE IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH
A coordinated multi-agency effort designed to address complaints of illegal
gill netting has resulted in the arrest of a man considered to be a major
player in illegal gill netting in lower Plaquemines Parish. Webley
Bourgeois, 33, of Venice, was cited for allegedly illegally possessing a
saltwater gill net on March 19. A 1200-foot gill net, a 19-foot flatboat
and a 200-horsepower outboard motor were seized in connection with the
violation.
The arrest was made after Bourgeois was allegedly observed in a vessel with
gill nets by a wildlife enforcement agent flying in a U.S. Customs Service
helicopter. He fled by boat and was eventually apprehended by the
Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office SWAT Team.
Agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement
Division, the United States Customs Service and United States Fish &
Wildlife Service worked together, performing numerous hours of covert
surveillance that involved the Customs Service helicopter. Agents reportedly
observed Bourgeois with the gill net in the area of Bay Des Huitres. It is
illegal to use or possess gill nets in saltwater areas except for certain
restricted, permit-only fisheries for mullet or pompano.
The violation of using or possessing a saltwater gill net illegally is a
class six offense, for which the penalty is a fine of up to $950, jail for
not more than 120 days, or both, plus court cost, and forfeiture of anything
seized.
Enforcement Division Chief Colonel Winton Vidrine was pleased with the
effort of the all involved, and gratified that they made such a difficult
case in the remote area of Venice. "This is a fine example of what can be
accomplished when agencies work together with the mission of protecting
the state's resources in mind," said Colonel Vidrine.
ANGLERS CITED FOR VIOLATIONS ON POVERTY POINT RESERVOIR
Enforcement agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
issued several citations to fishermen not abiding by regulations on Poverty
Point Reservoir in Richland Parish.
Three men were cited for not complying with the reservoir's slot limit for
black bass. Poverty Point Reservoir is a Louisiana Quality Lake and is
designated with a 14-inch to 17-inch slot restriction on black bass. Any
black bass measuring within the slot restriction must be returned to the
water immediately.
On March 13, Jimmy Ray Bezzard, 34, of Bastrop was cited for violating the
slot limit. An inspection of Bezzard's catch revealed he was in possession
of a black bass measuring 15 inches. Bezzard was issued a citation and the
fish was seized, photographed and returned to the water alive.
Agents cited Thomas M. Sharplin, 69, of Forest on March 18 for a similar
violation. He was found in possession of a black bass that measured 15 1/4
inches. The fish was also seized.
George L. Canales, 52, of Monroe was cited by agents on March 26 for having
a black bass that was 15 1/2 inches long. The agents seized, photographed
and returned the fish to the water.
Taking illegal size black bass carries a fine of not more than $350, jail
for no more than 60 day, or both, plus court costs.
On March 20, LDWF agents cited Joel R. Guess Jr., 44, of West Monroe for
taking over the limit of crappie on the reservoir. The recreational limit
on crappie in Louisiana waters is 50. Guess was found in possession of 52
crappie. The agents issued him a citation and returned the two fish to the
water alive.
The penalty for taking over the limit of crappie is a fine of not more than
$350, no more than 60 days in jail, or both, plus court costs.
Agents participating in these cases were Lt. Rick Owens; Sgt. Scott
Matthews; Sr. Agents Brian Rawls, Darren Bruce, Billy Richardson and
James Hagan.
WEST CARROLL MEN CITED FOR NIGHT HUNTING VIOLATIONS
Two Oak Grove men, identified as Michael B. Bulloch, 28 and Ryan H. Dye, 25,
were cited on March 13, for allegedly hunting raccoons illegally. Enforcement agents
from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries saw the two men hunt at
night with the aid of a spotlight from a boat in the Boeuf River. The two men were
found to be in possession of a loaded .22-caliber rifle.
Hunting raccoons from a boat and hunting raccoons without the aid of a dog
are both illegal and are both punishable by fines of not more than $500,
jail of not more than 90 days, or both, plus court costs.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Scott Mathews and Senior Agents
Darren Bruce and James Hagan.
WILDLIFE AGENT CITES RICHLAND PARISH MAN FOR GAME
FISH VIOLATIONS AT WOOLEN LAKE
On March 5, a Columbia man was cited on Woolen Lake in Richland Parish for
allegedly taking game fish illegally, taking fish without a commercial
license, taking fish without a commercial gear license, using illegal size
mesh nets, and failing to tag a gill net.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division Agent
Brian Rawls watched William W. Prince, 46 raise an illegal gill net, remove
game fish and then place the fish in his boat. Louisiana law requires game
fish taken in nets to be returned immediately to the water.
Upon stopping Prince, four crappie and one black bass were found in his
possession. The gill net used was also untagged and of an illegal mesh
size. Prince did not have a commercial fishing license and commercial gear
license. Both are required to fish gill nets in Louisiana. The fish, illegal
gill net, and Prince's boat were all seized as evidence. The fish were
photographed and donated to charity.
Taking fish without a commercial fishing license, taking fish without a
commercial gear license and failing to tag a gill net are all punishable
fines of up to $500, jail for not more than 90 days, or both, plus court
costs. Taking game fish illegally and using illegal size mesh gill nets
both carry fines of up to $750, jail for not more than 120 days, or both,
plus court costs. Prince was also issued a civil citation for failing to
comply with PFD requirements.
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