Gill Netters Sentenced in Plaquemines Parish

By Sgt. Robert Martin

A father and son team of illegal gill netters has been sentenced after a plea of guilty in Plaquemines Parish court. The case resulted from an incident on the night of February 12, 2002 in which they were arrested and a flatboat and gill net were seized. The two plead guilty on June 26, 2002 to the illegal use of a gill net and related charges. Judge Anthony Ragusa of the 25th Judicial District Court accepted the plea and passed the following sentence.

The operator of the vessel, pled guilty and was sentenced as follows: for taking commercial fish without a commercial fishing license, he was sentenced to pay a fine of $450 plus court costs; for taking commercial fish without a commercial vessel license he was sentenced to pay a fine of $450 plus court costs; for illegal use of a saltwater gillnet he was sentenced to pay a fine of $900 plus costs and to 120 days in parish prison; for careless operation of a vessel he was sentenced to pay a fine of $100 plus court costs. The jail time was suspended and he was put on inactive probation for one year with the condition that he not be charged with any violations other than traffic violations.

The other subject pled guilty to taking commercial fish without a commercial fishing license and was sentenced to pay a fine of $250 plus court costs.

The 1,265-foot gill net seized in the case was not returned. The vessel operated has been seized because the hull identification number had been removed. This vessel is considered contraband and will not be returned unless so ordered by a judge. All penalties must be paid by September 28, 2002.

Judge Anthony Ragusa of the 25th Judicial District Court in Plaquemines Parish presided over the case. Prosecution was handled by Assistant District Attorney Jerry Labrano, who works for District Attorney Daryl Bubrig. Participating in the case were Sergeant Robert Martin and Senior Agent Gary Pierce.