A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agent cited a Florida man for dumping cleanup materials from a FEMA trailer park in Krotz Springs on Jan. 13.

LDWF Sgt. Chris Carpenter investigated the dumpsite on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property known as Indian Bayou in St. Landry Parish and cited Johnathan Loye Byers Jr., 24, of Vero Beach, Fla. for gross littering after determining that Byers had discarded the trash after delivering trailers to the park.

The penalty for gross littering is a fine between $500 and $1,000 and up to eight hours of community service in a litter abatement work program.

L.D.W.F. AGENT INJURED DURING SATURDAY TRAFFIC STOP NEAR LAKE CHARLES

On Saturday, Feb. 14 an enforcement division agent with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) was injured during a traffic stop in Calcasieu Parish.

Working in the area of Jeff Davis Line Rd. in Calcasieu Parish, Senior Agents Chris Hoag and Jonathan Verret initiated a traffic stop at 8:30 p.m. after observing Tony Gerard Richardson, 19, of Iowa fail to stop at a stop sign.

As Senior Agent Verret made contact with the driver, Richardson grabbed the agent’s arm and fled in his vehicle, dragging the agent a short distance before he was released.  Senior Agent Verret sustained injuries to his leg, arm and hand as a result of the incident and was later treated and released from Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Richardson fled the scene with an unidentified passenger and his vehicle was later located, having been abandoned.  Richardson turned himself in to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office on Monday afternoon.  The identity of the second suspect who was riding with Richardson is still unknown at this time.

Richardson has been charged with failure to use a turn signal, failure to stop at a posted stop sign, battery of a police officer, attempted first degree murder and aggravated flight from an officer.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has knowledge of the second suspect should call Ray Price with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-491-3700.

PLAQUEMINES PARISH RESIDENTS CITED FOR TOO MANY RABBITS

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited three Buras men on Feb. 8 for possessing over the limit of rabbits in Venice. 

The agents were on patrol when they stopped James Allen Nicholas, 26, Milton Jerome Antoine, 24, and Rondey Steven Andry, 26, to perform a boating safety compliance check.  During the compliance check, the agents found two 5-gallon buckets filled with rabbits. 

After further investigation, the agents found the subjects to be in possession of 69 freshly harvested rabbits.  The daily bag limit for rabbits is eight per person, which put the subjects 45 rabbits over the legal limit.  Agents seized the illegally taken rabbits and donated them in accordance with department policy. 

  
Taking or possessing over the limit of rabbits carries a penalty from $250 to $500, or imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both plus court costs.  In addition to the criminal penalty, each hunter will be assessed a civil restitution penalty in the total amount of $738 for the illegally taken game.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Scot Keller and Senior Agent Mike Garrity.

GONZALES COUPLE CHARGED IN ALLIGATOR POACHING

A call from a concerned citizen on Feb. 3 prompted an investigation by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents into the illegal killing of an 11 to 12 foot alligator near Dutchtown.

The agents' investigation revealed that a Gonzales couple allegedly killed the alligator on Feb. 1, while hunting feral hogs in Ascension Parish. 

Brian Paul Berteau, 26, was cited with several violations related to the offense including: hunting alligator without a license, taking alligator during a closed season, failing to tag an alligator, illegal possession of an alligator, and hog hunting without a basic resident license.  He faces fines totaling $3,350, a jail sentence up to 465 days and civil restitution for the value of the alligator. 

Tanya Marie Garza, 27, also of Gonzales allegedly accompanied Berteau and was later found to be in possession of part of the alligator.  She was cited for hog hunting without basic resident hunting license, failing to comply with hunter safety regulations and illegal possession of alligator.  She faces fines totaling $1,050, a jail sentence up to 150 days and civil restitution for the value of the alligator. 

Local sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts knew the alligator as “Hercules.”  The alligator was estimated to be between 40-to-60-years-old.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Todd Lewis and Lt. Dennis Bueche.

The public is reminded that their participation is paramount in the apprehension of poachers and they are encouraged to participate in Operation Game Thief by relaying information through the department’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-442-2511.  Participants may remain anonymous and may become eligible for cash rewards if a violator is apprehended as a result of information received from the participant.

FOUR CITED FOR RED DRUM VIOLATIONS AND INTENTIONAL CONCEALMENT IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited four Louisiana men for alleged fishing violations on Feb 8 in Plaquemines Parish.

Raymond Stewart, 62, of New Orleans, Herbert Anderson, 51, of Algiers, Anthony Hills, 22, of Gretna, and Aaron Gatlin, 55, of New Orleans were cited for taking over the limit of red drum, taking undersized red drum, taking over the limit of black drum, taking undersized black drum and intentional concealment of illegal fish.

Agents were on boat patrol in the west Pointe a la Hache area when the four anglers were seen exiting a small pond.  When stopped for a boating safety inspection and license compliance check, agents discovered the subjects holding a total of 90 red drum and 32 black drum.  Eighty-four of the red drum and 12 of the black drum were under the legal size limit of 16 inches.

The penalty for the take or possession of undersized red drum carries a fine up to $350, jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs.  In addition to the penalties, a fine of $25 per fish less than 16 inches and revocation of any and all fishing licenses for one to three years may also be assessed.  The penalty for the take or possession of over the limit of red drum is a fine up to $350, jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs, and in addition a fine of $25 per fish over the limit.

The penalty for the take or possession of undersized black drum carries a fine up to $350, jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs.  The penalty for the take or possession of over the limit of black drum is a fine up to $350, jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs. 

The penalty for intentional concealment of illegal fish or game carries a fine up to $950, or imprisonment for up to 120 days, or both plus court costs. 

Additionally, each of the men will be assessed a civil restitution penalty for the illegally taken fish.  Agents seized and donated the illegal fish in accordance with department policy.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Adam Young and Agent Bret Nabors.

LOUISIANA OPERATION GAME THIEF HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING

Members of Louisiana Operation Game Thief, Inc. (LOGT), Louisiana’s grass root wildlife crime prevention program, held their annual meeting on Saturday, Jan. 31 in Baton Rouge.

The group considered reward amounts for tipsters in a total of 28 wildlife violation cases.  A total of $9,100 in case rewards was awarded to concerned citizens from around the state who had reported wildlife violations.  The cases ranged from hunting alligators to taking deer at night, with one reward paid for reporting the illegal shooting of a white pelican.

Assistant Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division Administrator, Lt. Col. Keith LaCaze, provided LOGT members with information on each case recommendation for reward amounts.  “We rely heavily on participation by concerned citizens in reporting these crimes,” he said.  “LOGT provides the cash rewards offered for information leading to arrests in these cases.”

LDWF Secretary Robert J. Barham attended the meeting and expressed appreciation to the members for their dedication and participation in the program. “Each of you is to be commended for your hard work,” Barham said.  “This program is vital to our law enforcement program."

Members heard recommendations from the board of directors for LOGT officers for 2009.  All current officers for 2008 will remain in office for 2009.  They are President Tommy R. Hicks, Shreveport; Vice President Rodney Richard, Sulphur; Secretary Ray Bordelon, Mansura; and Treasurer B. T. Chapman, Baton Rouge.  Nominated to continue on the board of directors were Allen Davis of West Monroe and Verbis Lafleur of Opelousas.

LOGT was instituted in 1984 and provides cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of violators of fish and wildlife regulations.  Funds are raised through private donations, court directed contributions and through contributions from cooperative endeavor agreements with organizations such as the National Wild Turkey Federation and Quality Deer Management Association.

Anyone wishing to report wildlife or fisheries violations should contact a wildlife enforcement agent or call LDWF’s 24-hour toll free Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-442-2511.  Callers may remain anonymous.

LOGT meets quarterly throughout the year to review cases and dispense rewards. The next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 2 at the LDWF Education Center at Woodworth. 

L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT DIVISION AGENT WENDELL WEEKS RECEIVES VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS AWARD
 
The Department of Louisiana Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Ladies Auxiliary   honored Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division Agent Wendell Weeks on Jan. 24 with an award for placing third in their “State Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” award ceremony. 

The award presentation was made in conjunction with the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Mid-Winter Conference held in Alexandria.  The VFW annually recognizes the achievements of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and teachers for their outstanding performance and service to the public

Senior Agent Weeks is a four-year employee of the LDWF Enforcement Division and is a resident of West Carroll Parish.  Weeks is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and currently serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. 

He was selected for this prestigious award from among law enforcement officers from various agencies across the state.  Weeks had previously been honored in March 2008 as a regional officer of the year during a ceremony at the Bastrop VFW Post, which qualified him for the state competition.

Weeks was nominated by his supervisors for outstanding service and job performance.

LDWF Enforcement Division Capt. Alan Bankston commended Weeks on his accomplishment saying, “Senior Agent Weeks is a dedicated law enforcement officer and is respected throughout his community for his professional service to the public.  We are proud to have him as one of our officers.”

GONZALES MAN CITED FOR SEVERAL FISHING VIOLATIONS IN BONNET CARRE SPILLWAY

A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agent cited an Ascension Parish resident on Jan. 26th for alleged freshwater game fish violations. 

Manolo Ahumada Diaz, 26, of Gonzales, was cited for taking or possessing game fish illegally, taking or possessing over the limit of freshwater game fish and angling without a license.

Agent Timothy Fox observed Diaz deploying a cast net in the Bonnet Carre Spillway and conducted a license compliance inspection.  During the inspection, the Fox determined that Diaz had taken approximately 40 fish with the net and had not purchased a fishing license. 

Along with several bait species, Diaz was in possession of 18 largemouth bass and five bream, which are each considered freshwater game fish.  The daily limit for largemouth bass is 10 fish per day and Louisiana law prohibits the taking of game fish species with a cast net.  

The penalty for taking or possessing game fish illegally includes a fine from $400 to $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both, plus court costs and forfeiture of anything seized.  The penalty for taking or possessing over the limit of freshwater game fish includes a fine from $100 to $350, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court costs.  The penalty for angling without a license includes a $50 fine, or jail time up to 15 days or both.

Fox seized and donated the illegal fish in accordance with department policy.

SIX MEN CITED IN ST. BERNARD PARISH FOR HARVESTING OYSTERS FROM A PROHIBITED AREA

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited six men on Jan. 17 for alleged oyster violations in Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish.

Jose Perez Sr., 49, and Jose Perez Jr., 19, both of Bacliff, Texas, Joaquin C. Morales, 26, of Seabrook, Texas, Rene Romero, 44, of Youngsville, James J. Callahan, 24, of Theriot, and Jason John Liner, 25, of Houma, were cited for taking oysters from unleased state water bottoms.

While on patrol in lower St. Bernard Parish, agents saw the vessels Miss Heather and Seacat dredging for oysters on unleased water bottoms.  The area in question contains private leases and unleased state water bottoms. 

Utilizing LDWF's global positioning satellite equipment, agents marked the location before boarding the vessels.  The location was proven to be on unleased state water bottoms where oyster harvesting is illegal.

Agents seized and returned 95 sacks of oysters to the water and placed four oyster dredges and the two vessels under a department seizure order. 

The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms is a fine up to $950, imprisonment for up to 120 days, or both, plus courts costs.  Any person convicted of this violation, may for one year after the date of such conviction, only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system.  Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.  For that year, the person convicted of these violations shall identify for the department which vessel he will be using to harvest oysters.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Bryan Marie, and Senior Agents Tim Fox and Doug Dana.

OYSTER STRIKE FORCE AGENTS CITE SEVEN FOR ILLEGAL HARVEST ON BLACK BAY CULTCH PLANT

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division's Oyster Strike Force (OSF) cited seven men on Jan. 18 for alleged oyster violations in Black Bay located in Plaquemine’s Parish.

After receiving complaints of illegal activity, OSF agents patrolled the Black Bay area and spotted the vessels Kristen Fox and Captain Ethan on the recently constructed (May 2007) oyster cultch plant, which is closed to harvesting.  A cultch plant is an area of water bottoms where suitable reef material (i.e. oyster shell, limestone, crushed concrete) has been deposited for the purpose of establishing a new, or rehabilitating an existing oyster reef. 

The harvesters were identified as Clifford Barrios, 69, of St. Bernard, David Velas Quez, 38, and Marvin Mejia, 18, both of Gretna, Bernard Picone, 43, of Point A La Hache, Raul Bocanegra Franco, 22, of Bayou LaBatre, Ala., Daniel Bocanegra Franco, 23, and Manuel Bocanegra Ordonez, 48, both of Bellechasse. 

Agents apprehended and cited the men for not abiding by commission rules and regulations (closed cultch plant).  Agents also seized and returned 105 sacks of oysters to the water.

The penalty for not abiding by commission rules and regulations is a fine up to $350, imprisonment for up to 60 days, or both plus courts costs.  

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Bryan Marie and Senior Agent Mike Garrity.

TWO ST. TAMMANY PARISH MEN CITED FOR HUNTING VIOLATIONS

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited a father and son from St. Tammany Parish for deer hunting violations on Jan. 4 in St. Tammany Parish.

Agents cited Allan T. Dedebant Sr., 57, of Folsom, for killing a doe deer during illegal hours with the use of a crossbow and for failure to comply with deer harvest record requirements.  Agents also cited Allan T. Dedebant Jr., 29, of Folsom, for possession of an illegally taken deer.

Agents received earlier information concerning illegal hours hunting in the Lake Ramsay area, north of Covington.  Agents began working the complaint and on Jan. 4, received additional information regarding an illegally taken deer at a residence on R. J. Lane.  Responding to the complaint, agents located the residence and a freshly skinned deer.

Agents seized the deer and crossbow along with a ground blind and automatic feeder from Dedebant Sr.

The penalty for hunting deer during illegal hours is a fine between $900 to $950, or 120 days in jail, or both plus court costs and forfeiture of anything seized.  The penalty for possession of an illegally taken deer is a fine between $400 to $950, or 120 days in jail, or both plus court costs.  The penalty for failure to comply with deer harvest record requirements is a fine between $100 to $350, or 60 days in jail, or both plus court costs.

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agents Lee Davis and Keith Francis.

SUBJECTS CITED FOR HUNTING ON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited three subjects for illegally hunting on the Bayou Savage National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on Dec. 31. 

Agents observed three men hunting from a boat within a portion of the Bayou Savage NWR that is restricted from all hunting activity.

Danny Townsend, 36, Johnny Drawdy, 44, and Stephen Jeansonne, 45, all of Pearl River, were cited for hunting without resident licenses, possessing firearms on a NWR and taking game on a NWR.

The penalty for hunting without a resident license is a fine of $50, or imprisonment for up to 15 days or both.  The penalty for possessing firearms on a NWR and for taking game on a NWR is a fine up to $5,000 for each offense.

Agents participating in the investigation were Sgt. Kris Bourgeois, Sgt. Jason Russo, Senior Agent Derek Sampey and Agent Austin Arteaga.

VIOLATORS TEMPTED BY RESOURCES IN BAY GARDENE

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division's Oyster Strike Force (OSF) cited three oyster fishermen on Jan. 4 for alleged oyster violations in Bay Gardene located in Plaquemines Parish.

After receiving complaints of illegal activity, OSF agents patrolled the Bay Gardene area and spotted Jose De Jesus Rodriguez-Cardenas, 24, from Montegut, Aureliano Lara Rodriguez, 29, and Filiberto C. Rodriguez, 32, both from Houma, in the closed area.  The Bay Gardene oyster seed area is currently closed. 

Agents apprehended and cited the men for taking oysters during a closed season.  Agents also seized three sacks of oysters, which were returned to the water. 

The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms is a fine up to $350, imprisonment for up to 60 days, or both plus courts costs. 

Any person convicted of these violations, may for one year after the date of such conviction, only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system.  Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.  For that year, the person convicted of these violations shall identify for the department which vessel he will be using to harvest oysters.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Bryan Marie and Senior Agent Mike Garrity.

FOUR PLAQUEMINE MEN CITED FOR NIGHT HUNTING IN CONCORDIA PARISH

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited four men from Plaquemines Parish for allegedly hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting from a moving vehicle and hunting from a public road on Dec. 12 in Concordia Parish.

Agents received information about night hunting activity on La. Hwy. 566 in the Dunbarton area.  LDWF Senior Agent Trey Mason and Senior Agent Robbie Mayo responded to the call and located a vehicle driving slowly and matching the description of the suspected vehicle.

Agents stopped the vehicle and after further investigation determined that Henry Donald Hess, 49, of Venice, had shot at a doe deer from the highway.  Clifford Nelson Wall, 32, of Buras, Timothy Poyadou, 45, and Gerald Joseph Guidry, 55, both of Venice, were also cited. 

Agents returned to the area of the shots and located shotgun shells on the side of the road and a fresh blood trail that lead to a dead doe deer about 50 yards in the woods.

The penalty for hunting deer during illegal hours is a fine between $900 to $950, or 120 days in jail, or both plus court costs.  Hunting from a moving vehicle is punishable by a fine between $250 to $500, or up to 90 days in jail or both plus court costs.  Hunting from a public road carries a fine between $150 to $300, or up to 30 days in jail, or both plus court costs.  The department will also seek a court order for civil restitution for the replacement value of the allegedly illegally taken doe.