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CITIZEN TIP LEADS L.D.W.F. AGENTS TO ILLEGAL TURKEY HUNTER IN
UNION PARISH
WEST MONROE MAN SENTENCED FOR ILLEGALLY TAKING A WILD TURKEY
L.D.W.F. AGENTS RESCUE FISHERMEN ON TOLEDO BEND
SEVEN MEN CITED FOR ILLEGALLY
BAITING TURKEYS IN THE FLORIDA PARISHES
RAYVILLE MAN CITED FOR HUNTING TURKEYS OVER BAIT IN FRANKLIN
PARISH
TWO MEN CHARGED WITH RED SNAPPER FISHERY VIOLATIONS
NIGHT HUNTER ARRESTED FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON AN AGENT WITH A
FIREARM
CITIZEN TIP LEADS L.D.W.F. AGENTS TO ILLEGAL TURKEY HUNTER
IN UNION PARISH
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division (LDWF)
agents cited Jason Andrew Reich, 20, of Shreveport for allegedly hunting
turkeys over a baited area on March 26.
Reich was found hunting on the third day of turkey season approximately 10
feet from an area baited with corn. Agents entered the area the day before
and located the bait after receiving a complaint from an individual who
called and reported the violation.
Acting on the information received, agents made contact with Reich the next
morning after they observed him lying on the ground in camouflage clothing
holding a shotgun and facing a turkey decoy. Agents collected samples of
bait for evidence and photographed the area.
The penalty for hunting turkeys over a baited area is a fine between $250
and $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court costs.
To report wildlife law violations call "Operation Game Thief" anytime at
1-800-442-2511. Callers do not have to give their name or testify in court.
Cash rewards of up to $1,000 are awarded for information leading to the
arrests of wildlife violators.
Agents participating in the cases were Lt. Mike Rockett, Sgts. Kincaid,
Thomas Risser, Jimmy Vining and Senior Agent John Volentine.
WEST MONROE MAN SENTENCED FOR ILLEGALLY TAKING A WILD TURKEY
Joel R. Guess Jr., 47, of West Monroe, was sentenced in Caldwell Parish
District Court on March 27 after pleading guilty to taking a wild turkey
during a closed season, taking a turkey with a rifle and possession of an
illegally-taken wild turkey.
Judge Don Burns of the 37th Judicial District sentenced Guess to pay a fine
of $250 plus court costs of $209 and $802.50 in civil restitution for the
replacement value of the turkey. He was also sentenced to six months in
jail. The jail sentence was suspended and he was placed on one-year
probation in which he will not be allowed to hunt during the probation term.
Guess was cited after Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Enforcement Division agents received an anonymous tip through Operation Game
Thief that he had shot the turkey while deer hunting around the first week
of December in Caldwell Parish. Agents located the turkey at a taxidermist
shop in Ouachita Parish and later questioned Guess who confessed to shooting
the turkey.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Duane Taylor and Senior Agents
Scott Jeansonne and John Volentine.
L.D.W.F. AGENTS RESCUE FISHERMEN ON TOLEDO BEND
Two men were rescued by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Enforcement Division agents on March 16 after their boat had capsized in
rough water on Toledo Bend Lake.
Layton Britt, of Noble, and Eric Lowring, of Zwolle, were fishing in the
Texas Oilman's Bass Invitational Tournament when their boat began taking on
water from high waves. The boat began to sink and eventually capsized
around 11:45 a.m.
Britt and Lowring put on their lifejackets and swam to a nearby tree.
Lowring was able to climb up the tree and stand on a limb, while Britt held
on to the base of the tree.
At 12:20 p.m., Lowring was able to make contact with the Sabine Parish
Sheriff's Office with the aid of a cell phone that he had sealed in a
plastic bag. He informed them that they had launched their boat at Bison's
Landing on the Louisiana side of the lake, but they were now on the Texas
side across from Wright's Landing.
When Texas authorities were contacted, they advised that they were unable to
respond in a timely manner. The Sabine Parish Sheriff's Office then
contacted LDWF Enforcement Senior Agent Maury Leone and Agent Jared Adams.
By 1 p.m. Leone and Adams had launched their boat and had begun to search
for the two men.
Due to the extremely rough conditions, Senior Agent Ronnie Robertson was
called to assist with a larger boat and he also began a search for the
fishermen. Leone and Adams located Britt and Lowring about 300 yards from
the Texas shoreline. Despite the rough water, the agents were able to help
the two fishermen into their boat and get them safely to shore around 2:30
p.m. Due to the fact that Britt had been in the cold water for some time,
an ambulance was called as a precaution. He was treated for mild
hypothermia and released by emergency medical workers at the scene.
SEVEN MEN CITED FOR ILLEGALLY BAITING TURKEYS IN THE FLORIDA PARISHES
Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited seven men on March 24, the opening day of the 2007 spring gobbler
season, for hunting turkeys over baited areas in the Florida parishes.
Agents in Livingston Parish cited Seth H. Hutchinson, 20, of Independence.
In Washington Parish agents cited Joseph J. Bowers Jr., 46 of Franklinton,
and in St. Helena Parish agents cited Jerry Ellenberger, 68 and Randall
Andrews, 52, both of Livingston, Billy Wascom, 52, of Greensburg, Fred
Watson IV, 24, of Greenwell Springs and Toney A. Harris, 54, of Walker.
If convicted, each man faces a fine between $250 and $500, or jail for not
more than 90 days, or both plus court costs.
Agents participating in the cases were Sgts. Dane Thomas and Darryl
Galloway, Senior Agents Toby Miller, Robert Larsen, Ronny Robbins, Scott
Bell and Louis Burnett, and Agent Clarence Marques.
RAYVILLE MAN CITED FOR
HUNTING TURKEYS OVER BAIT IN FRANKLIN PARISH
Agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Enforcement
Division cited Robert M. Harris, 50, of Rayville for allegedly hunting
turkeys over a baited area on March 24.
Sgt. Scott Watson and Agent Leya Grover observed Harris hunting from a
ground blind that was approximately 30 feet from the baited area on the
opening day of turkey season. Agents photographed and collected several
types of grain seed that Harris had allegedly scattered on the ground.
It is illegal to hunt turkeys within 200 yards of any baited area. All bait
must also be gone 15 days prior to hunting an area.
Turkey hunting over bait is punishable by a fine of up to $500, or jail time
for up to 90 days, or both plus court costs.
TWO MEN CHARGED WITH RED
SNAPPER FISHERY VIOLATIONS
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division
agents
cited two men in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico outside of East Bay
for alleged federal fish violations on March 8.
Glenn Coleman, 54, and Dwight Andrews, 61, both of Marrero, were each cited
for violations of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservations
Act for taking red snapper during a closed season, possession of under-sized
red snapper and possessing red drum in federal waters.
The investigation determined the two men to be in possession of four red
drum and 79 red snapper, of which 45 were under the legal minimum size limit
of 16 inches. All of the fish involved were seized.
Penalties for violating the Magnson-Stevens Fishery Management and
Conservation Act can be up to a maximum of $130,000 in fines.
The case is a result of work performed by LDWF agents under a state/federal
cooperative enforcement agreement between LDWF and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Office for Law Enforcement. The agreement
provides federal funds to state marine enforcement agencies for enforcement
of fisheries resource regulations.
Agents participating in the case were Lt. Glen Gremillion, Sgt. Todd
Laviolette, and Senior Agent Ezekiel Talbert.
NIGHT HUNTER ARRESTED FOR
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON AN AGENT WITH A FIREARM
A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division
agent
arrested Coty L. Romero, 21, of Gueydan for alleged aggravated assault with
a firearm and hunting wild quadrupeds during illegal hours on March 11 in
Vermilion Parish.
Earlier that evening Agent Derek Logan received a report of frequent night
hunting in the area where Romero was apprehended. In the past few months,
agents have apprehended several illegal night hunters in the same area.
Logan spotted Romero shining a light in a field off Vick Road. Logan then
proceeded to the area in his truck in an attempt to investigate the
activity. A shotgun was fired from the dark in the direction of Logan's
vehicle.
Logan accelerated his truck past the area of the shot and then exited the
truck and returned to the location from where the shot had been fired.
Logan finally located Romero shining a light down the road toward his truck.
From a safe position Logan illuminated Romero with his flashlight and
ordered him to drop his weapon and lay face down on the ground. Romero
later admitted to shooting at Agent Logan's truck.
Romero was then placed under arrest, transported to the Vermilion Parish
Correctional Center and booked into jail. The investigation is ongoing and
further charges may be filed against Romero and a female who accompanied
him.
Seized as evidence in connection with the arrest was a semi-automatic
12-gauge shotgun.
Punishment for aggravated assault with a firearm is a fine up to $5,000, or
imprisonment for up to five years with or without hard labor, or both. The
penalty for hunting wild quadrupeds during illegal hours with artificial
light is a fine up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both plus court costs.
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