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SHRIMP TRAWLERS CHARGED WITH DESTROYING CRAB TRAPS
MOREAUVILLE MAN SETTLES OUT OF COURT ON THEFT OF LIVESTOCK
CHARGES
L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT AGENTS RECEIVE AWARDS FOR SERVICE DURING HURRICANE KATRINA
GRANT PARISH RESIDENT KILLS BALD EAGLE
L.D.W.F. AGENTS STOP NIGHT HUNTERS, FIND ILLEGAL DRUGS
TWO MEN CITED FOR HUNTING DEER AT NIGHT IN ALLEN PARISH
STARKS MAN CITED FOR SHOOTING DEER DECOY FROM A PUBLIC ROAD
REPEAT OFFENDER CITED FOR CLOSED AREA HUNTING IN ORLEANS
PARISH
EVANGELINE PARISH MAN CITED FOR STATE AND FEDERAL
VIOLATIONS
SHRIMP TRAWLERS CHARGED WITH DESTROYING CRAB TRAPS
A coordinated effort between Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Enforcement Division agents and Enforcement Division pilot Russell Johnson
resulted in alleged crab trap violations for three Chauvin men on Jan. 4 in
Iberia Parish.
Robert Pinell, 37, Darrel Theriot, 44, and Jermaine Domangue, 32, were cited
for destroying legal crab traps, removing the contents of crab traps without
permission from the licensee and taking commercial fish without a commercial
crab trap gear license.
Enforcement Division Capt. Jubal Marceaux received a complaint from a
commercial crab fisherman alleging that people aboard a commercial trawler
had picked up a number of his crab traps and would not return them to him.
The crab fisherman stated the trawl boat left the area with the crab traps
and he provided the name, description and direction of travel.
Enforcement pilot Johnson located the vessel approximately three miles south
of South Point near the Marsh Island State Refuge. Johnson relayed the
vessels position to Senior Agents Keith Delahoussaye and Lonnie Campbell who
were on boat patrol near Marsh Island. The agents boarded the trawl vessel
and discovered 10 serviceable crab traps with the floats removed. Some of
the crab traps still contained fresh bait. All but one trap was tagged.
The tag numbers were traced to six different commercial crab fishermen.
Further investigation revealed that people aboard the trawler had removed
the crab traps from the water, cut the floats and removed crabs from some of
the traps. The investigation will continue and further charges may be filed
on Pinell, Theriot, and Domangue.
Destroying legal crab traps or removing crab trap contents without
permission each carry a fine of $400 to $750, or jail time up to 120 days,
or both plus court costs. Taking or possessing commercial fish without a
gear license is punishable by a fine of $250 to $500, or jail time up to 90
days, or both plus court costs.
MOREAUVILLE MAN SETTLES OUT OF COURT ON THEFT OF
LIVESTOCK CHARGES
A Moreauville man settled out of court on charges of theft of livestock and
taking deer from a public road. In an agreement made with the Concordia
Parish District Attorney's Office, Andrew P. Coco, 51, will pay $25,000
restitution for the value of the deer to Blackhawk Plantation.
On Nov. 21, Coco shot and killed a 13-point buck, which scored 178 inches by
the Boone and Crockett measurement system, from his vehicle off of highway
15 through an eight-foot game fence at Blackhawk Plantation. Coco was
booked into the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office and a 30-06 rifle was
seized as evidence.
Coco was placed on pre-trial intervention for the charges of theft of
livestock and taking deer from a public road. Coco also had to pay a $1,500
enrollment fee to the pre-trial intervention program and was placed on two
years probation.
L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT AGENTS RECEIVE AWARDS FOR SERVICE DURING HURRICANE
KATRINA
Three Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division
agents were honored at the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission
meeting on Jan. 5 for their assistance in locating and evacuating a Florida
detective following Hurricane Katrina.
Senior Agents Troy Parker of Stonewall and Ryan Brasher from Minden, Sgt.
Jason Gernados of Chalmette, and two Texas Parks and Wildlife Law
Enforcement Division game wardens received Distinguished Service Awards from
Sheriff Charles B. Wells of Florida for helping evacuate a Manatee County
Sheriff's detective from the New Orleans Convention Center. The awards are
given for acts of extraordinary bravery that involve great personal risk.
The detective was in New Orleans to testify in a homicide trial after
arresting the defendant in Florida. The detective was trapped in New
Orleans after his flight was canceled and he could not find any other
transportation out of the city. He rode the storm out at a hotel in
downtown New Orleans, but had to go to the Convention Center when the city
began to flood. He was rescued on Thursday, Sept. 1.
GRANT PARISH RESIDENT KILLS BALD EAGLE
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited Michael Bladel, 41, of Pollock in Grant Parish for allegedly killing a
southern bald eagle.
On Dec. 21, 2005, agents received a report of Bladel shooting and killing an
eagle on the morning of Dec. 20. During the investigation, Bladel admitted
shooting and killing the eagle. He stated he thought he was shooting at a
chicken hawk. Bladel produced talons and tail feathers, which had been
removed from the eagle. He then led agents to a local dumpster where he had
discarded the eagle on the morning of Dec. 21. He retrieved the eagle, which
was covered with debris, from the dumpster. Agents seized the eagle, talons,
tail feathers, and a .270 caliber rifle as evidence.
Bladel was cited for taking non-game bird for which there is no season. The
case will be filed in federal court where the charge will likely be amended
for a charge under bald eagle protection laws. Federal penalties for taking
a southern bald eagle include fines of up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment
for up to one year.
Agents participating in the case were Capt. Peter Oliver, Lt. Eric Stokes,
Sgt. Michael Bonner, Sgt. Marcus Constance and Senior Agent Rusty Perry.
L.D.W.F. AGENTS STOP NIGHT HUNTERS, FIND ILLEGAL DRUGS
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
observed illegal hunting activity near the intersection of Highway 134 and
Highway 581 that led to the arrest of four subjects on December 20, 2005.
Agents observed Johnny Earl Fields, 34, Richard Lockhart, 35, Johnny Peeler,
49, and Carneil Anderson, 33, all from Lake Providence, hunting deer at
night. During the arrest, agents found the men in possession of substances
the agents believed to be marijuana, powder cocaine and crack cocaine, and
$9,498 in cash. All four subjects were booked into jail and charged with
hunting deer during illegal hours with an artificial light, hunting from
moving vehicle, hunting deer from a public road, littering, illegal
possession of marijuana, and illegal possession of Cocaine with the intent
to distribute.
TWO MEN CITED FOR HUNTING DEER AT NIGHT IN ALLEN PARISH
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited two men for violations associated with allegedly hunting deer at night
in Allen Parish on December 16.
Martin James Guillory II, 24, of Lake Charles and Adam Paul Bullock, 20, of
Reeves were cited for hunting deer during illegal hours with artificial
light, hunting from a moving vehicle, hunting deer from a public road and
spotlighting from a public road.
Agents were working this area in response to complaints regarding shots
fired at night and dead deer with gunshot wounds found in the surrounding
cutovers. While performing surveillance on cutovers south of Reeves, Senior
Agent Joey James allegedly observed a vehicle using a spotlight to
illuminate the cutovers while traveling at a slow rate of speed.
The agent stopped the vehicle and discovered Guillory and Bullock in
possession of a loaded .243 caliber rifle equipped with a scope and a 6.5
million-candle power spotlight. Both items will be held as evidence pending
the outcome of the case.
The penalty for hunting deer illegal hours with artificial light includes a
fine of $900-$950 or jail not more than 120 days or both. The penalty for
hunting from a moving vehicle includes a fine of $250-$500 or jail not more
than 90 days or both. The penalty for hunting deer from a public road
includes a fine of $100-$350 or jail not more than 60 days or both. The
penalties also include court costs and forfeiture of anything seized.
Assisting Senior Agent James in the case were Lieutenant Jesse Savoie and
Sergeant David Liles.
STARKS MAN CITED FOR SHOOTING DEER DECOY FROM A PUBLIC ROAD
On December 24, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement
Division agents cited Claude C. Hoosier, 52, of Starks for allegedly hunting
from a public road, hunting from a moving vehicle, attempting to take an
illegal deer during open deer season, and for discharging a firearm from a
public road. The alleged violations occurred on South Bearhead Road in
Beauregard Parish.
Enforcement agents utilized a mechanical doe deer decoy to address
complaints of persons hunting deer with dogs who were shooting from the
road. Agents allegedly watched while Hoosier exited his truck, loaded his
gun, and fired two shots at the decoy while he was standing in the middle of
South Bearhead Road. Hoosier was immediately apprehended and cited, and his
shotgun was seized as evidence.
The penalty for hunting or attempting to take an illegal deer during open
deer season is a fine of up to $750 and jail for not less than 15 days or
more than 30 days plus court costs. Hunting deer from a public road carries
a fine of up to $350 or up to 60 days in jail or both plus court costs.
Hunting from a moving vehicle carries a fine of up to $500 or up to 90 days
in jail or both plus court costs, and discharging a firearm from a public
road carries a fine of up to $50 or up to 30 days in jail or both plus court
costs.
Agents participating in the case were Lieutenant Jesse Savoie, Sergeant
David Liles, Sergeant Keith Aucoin, and Senior Agent Wendel Vaughn.
REPEAT OFFENDER CITED FOR CLOSED AREA HUNTING IN ORLEANS PARISH
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited a St. Tammany Parish resident on December 22 for alleged hunting
violations in Orleans Parish. Christian S. Hynes, 44, of Slidell was cited
for allegedly hunting and possessing deer in a closed portion of Orleans
Parish. Hynes was previously cited on November 26 for hunting migratory
game birds in the same closed area.
A confidential informant notified agents that Hynes was seen taking a deer
out of the woods near the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge. The
agents responded to the complaint and found Hynes with one deer and a
high-powered rifle. The deer and rifle were seized as evidence. The deer
was turned over to LDWF Wildlife Division for scientific evaluation.
State law prohibits hunting in portions of Orleans Parish west of Chef
Menteur Pass and north of the Intracoastal Waterway. On both occasions,
agents found Hynes within these boundaries.
Hynes was charged with hunting or possessing deer in a closed area and
contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Hynes was also issued a
civil citation for the restitution value of the deer.
Hunting or possessing deer in a closed area carries a fine up to $350,
imprisonment not more than 60 days, or both, plus court costs. Contributing
to the delinquency of a juvenile carries a fine up to $500, imprisonment not
more than six months, or both, plus court costs. The civil restitution for
the deer is approximately $530.
Agents participating in the investigation were Captain Brian Clark,
Lieutenant Allen Adam and Sr. Agents Kris Bourgeois and Eddie Skena.
EVANGELINE PARISH MAN CITED FOR STATE AND FEDERAL
VIOLATIONS
A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division
agent issued citations to a Ville Platte man for allegedly hunting while on
probation and for violations of federal hunting regulations.
Jimmy Don Bolfa, 46, of Ville Platte, was allegedly trespassing while
hunting squirrels and ducks in Evangeline Parish. Senior Agent Fontenot
responded to a complaint from the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office after
Bolfa was apprehended. Fontenot cited Bolfa for hunting while on probation,
hunting migratory game birds without a state duck hunting license, hunting
migratory birds without a federal duck stamp and using lead shot in an area
designated as steel shot only.
A 12-gauge shotgun, one squirrel and two wood ducks were seized in
connection with the violations. Bolfa is currently serving two years of
probation stemming from a conviction for a 2003 night hunting violation,
which also occurred in Evangeline Parish.
The penalty for each of the migratory game bird violations is a fine up to
$15,000, jail time up to one year and loss of hunting privileges. Hunting
while on probation carries a fine between $100 and $350, or imprisonment up
to 60 days or both.
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