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JANUARY 2004 NEWS
COLUMBIA MAN CITED FOR W.M.A. VIOLATIONS IN CALDWELL PARISH
WILDLIFE AGENT AND CALDWELL PARISH RESIDENTS RESCUE VICTIMS OF OVERTURNED BOAT GILL NETTERS CAUGHT IN YELLOW COTTON BAY
JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENT ARRESTED FOR DWI
MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTER CAUGHT OVER BAIT
TWO ACADIA MEN SENTENCED FOR IBERIA PARISH FISHERIES VIOLATIONS
NIGHT HUNTERS ARRESTED
WEST CARROLL MEN CITED FOR NIGHT HUNTING IN MADISON PARISH
RAPIDES PARISH NIGHT HUNTERS SENTENCED IN DISTRICT COURT
COLUMBIA MAN CITED FOR W.M.A. VIOLATIONS IN CALDWELL PARISH Charles R. (Rod) Shipp, 44, of Columbia was cited on December 12 for alleged violations of wildlife management area regulations on Boeuf River WMA. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Agent David Henslee found an ATV and empty bow case on a closed road on Boeuf Wildlife Management Area. Approximately 250 yards from the ATV, Agent Henslee found Shipp bowhunting from a stand It was determined that Henslee had been left on the WMA overnight, in violation of the regulations. Corn was distributed on the ground near the stand, a violation of baiting prohibitions on WMA lands. Shipp was cited for the three violations of WMA rules and regulations. The penalty for each count of not abiding by rules and regulations on a WMA is a fine of up to $350, jail for up to 60 days, or both, plus court costs.
WILDLIFE AGENT AND CALDWELL PARISH RESIDENTS RESCUE VICTIMS OF OVERTURNED BOAT On the night of January 3, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Senior Agent Scott Watson and two Columbia residents identified as Darrell Howard, 31, and Thomas Thorn Howard, 15, rescued six victims from a capsized boat in Lafourche Lake. Lafourche Lake is located in Caldwell Parish. While patrolling near Lafourche Lake at approximately 11:15 p.m., Agent Watson saw the two Howard men running across the road and towards the lakeshore. They told Agent Watson that a boat had flipped over in the lake. Agent Watson and the men then used a small boat to make their way to the victims. Upon reaching the victims, Agent Watson entered the water to get a P.F.D. (lifejacket) into the hands of a 14-year-old child in the water. None of the six victims were wearing PFD's. The Howards then used their small boat to get the victims to shore. The first victim placed in the boat was a 21-year-old expectant mother. After further investigation and interviewing, the operator of the capsized boat, Travis McFarlain Jr., 36, of Pine Prairie was issued citations for failure to comply with P.F.D requirements, no running lights, and overloaded boat. Each of these offenses carries a civil fine of $50. McFarlain was also issued a citation for alleged reckless operation of a watercraft. Reckless operation of a boat is punishable by a fine of up to $500, jail for 90 days, or both, plus court costs. Additional agents participating in the investigation were Sgt. Cecil Wells and Senior Agent David Henslee.
GILL NETTERS CAUGHT IN YELLOW COTTON BAY Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents have arrested and cited two men for allegedly taking spotted sea trout with a gill net during closed season. Clayton M. Buras, 21, of Venice, and Dean J. Ancalade, 21, also of Buras were arrested on January 22 and booked into the Plaquemines Parish Prison for using a saltwater gill net illegally and taking commercial spotted seatrout during close season. In addition, Buras was charged with flight from an officer. The case resulted from a night patrol in the Yellow Cotton Bay area of Plaquemines Parish. After finding a suspicious vehicle parked at the Yellow Cotton Bay Marina the agents investigated further and set up surveillance in the bay. They spotted Buras and Ancalade and watched as they worked gill nets taking fish in the darkness. All fish were loaded into sacks and hidden in the weeds along the shoreline. The fishermen were then apprehended and placed under arrest. A total of 464 spotted seatrout were seized as a result of the incident. Violations of using saltwater gill nets illegally and taking spotted sea trout in closed season are both punishable by fines up to $950, jail for not more than 120 days, or both, license and permit revocation and forfeiture of anything seized in connection with the violation. Buras and Ancalade will also face civil monetary fines for the 464 spotted sea trout illegally taken. The charges will be forwarded to the district attorney's office in Plaquemines Parish for prosecution. Agents participating in the case were Lt. Robert Martin, Senior Agent Mike Garrity, Agents Jason Gernados, Roy Pier, Adam Young and Villere Reggio.
JEFFERSON PARISH RESIDENT ARRESTED FOR DWI Agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division have arrested Lethan R. Gill, 35, of Marrero for allegedly driving a motorboat while intoxicated. He was booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on December 31. Enforcement agents were on boating safety patrol on the Bayou Segnette Waterway in Jefferson Parish when they stopped Gill's vessel to perform a boating safety compliance check. During the safety check, the agents noticed that Gill appeared to be intoxicated. Agents administered several standardized field sobriety tests and determined suspected intoxication. Gill was arrested and cited for operating a vessel while intoxicated. The penalty for a first offense DWI violation is a fine of not more than $1000 and imprisonment for not more than six months. Agents participating in the case were Senior Agent Eddie Skena and Sgt. James Gregoire.
MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTER CAUGHT OVER BAIT Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division enforcement agents and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents issued federal citations to a duck hunter for allegedly hunting migratory game birds with the aid of bait. Troy L. Caron, 30, of Chalmette, was cited for alleged violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act including hunting migratory game birds over bait, placing bait for the purpose of taking migratory game birds, taking over the limit of snipe, and wanton waste of migratory game birds. The case was a result of a week-long surveillance by state and federal agents after USFWS agents found and documented a baited pond as they were conducting an aerial flight in the Hopedale area of St. Bernard Parish. On the morning of January 17, agents watched Caron shoot and kill 11 snipe and three ducks over the baited area. The legal limit on snipe is eight per person. At the conclusion of his hunt, the agents made contact with Caron and learned that he had placed 80 pounds of corn in the pond on January 10. All snipe and ducks were seized in connection with the case. Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are punishable by fines up to $5,000, jail for up to six months, or both. The citations will be forwarded to the office of the U.S. Attorney in New Orleans for prosecution. Agents participating in the case were Senior Agents Mike Garrity and Roy Pier and USFWS Agent Stephen Clark.
TWO ACADIA MEN SENTENCED FOR IBERIA PARISH FISHERIES VIOLATIONS Edward A. Perkins Jr., 23, of Church Point, entered a plea of guilty on January 21, in the 16th Judicial District Court in Iberia Parish for theft of articles less than $300 in value. He received a six month suspended jail sentence and was placed on supervised probation for one year. In addition he was ordered to pay a fine and court costs totaling $359 and restitution to the victim in the amount of $150. Perkins was also forbidden by the court to sell shrimp or seafood products in any manner for one year. The costs associated with Perkins' sentence were ordered to be paid within 90 days or he is to serve six months in jail. Donald Wayne Thibodeaux, 46, also of Church Point entered a plea of guilty on January 22, in the 16th Judicial District Court in Iberia Parish for buying and or selling fish without a retail seafood dealer's license. He received a three month suspended jail sentence and was placed on supervised probation for two years. In addition he was ordered to pay a fine and court costs totaling $762 and restitution to the victim in the amount of $250. Thibodeaux was also forbidden by the court to sell shrimp or seafood products for one year. The costs associated with Thibodeaux's sentence were ordered to be paid within 60 days or serve 90 days in jail. These sentences stemmed from an investigation by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents and the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department. In June of 2003, Perkins and Thibodeaux sold shrimp to a New Iberia woman in Coteau. The victim paid $350 for 100 pounds of head on shrimp and ended up with approximately 31 pounds of tails after the shrimp were deheaded. The average weight of shrimp after 100 pounds were deheaded would be 65 pounds. Neither Perkins nor Thibodeaux had a retail seafood dealer's license to sell shrimp. Sixteenth Judicial Court Judge Gerard Wattigny presided over the cases and Assistant District Attorney Ralph K. Lee prosecuted. Agents participating in the investigation were Lt. Glenn Angelle, Sgt. Robert Buatt, Senior Agents Kirby Henry and Aaron Monceaux and Iberia Parish Sheriff's Detective Scott Hotard.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents arrested four men on January 5 for alleged night hunting violations and vandalism. The four men were cited for hunting deer during illegal hours with artificial light, hunting from a moving vehicle and hunting from a public road. Arrested were Landen K. Esneault, 19, and Beau D. Behrnes, 18, both of Port Allen, Jeremie Lefeaux, 17, of Maringouin and Mare G. Melancon Jr., 17, of Bueche. The four men were booked into the West Baton Rouge Parish Jail for the violations after agents apprehended them for allegedly shooting at a deer on Rosedale Road in West Baton Rouge Parish. A .22-caliber rifle was seized in connection with the case. All four men were also connected to a drive-by shooting of Port Allen High School, which caused considerable damage to the school. The shooting occurred just prior to the subjects being apprehended by the enforcement agents. Additional charges are pending. The penalty for hunting deer during illegal hours with artificial light is a fine of up to $950, jail for not more than 120 days, or both, plus court costs and forfeiture of anything seized. The violations of hunting from a public road and hunting from a moving vehicle each carry a fine of up to $500, jail for not more than 90 days, or both, plus court costs. Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Donald Vallet and Sr. Agents Cliff Ortis and Channing Duvall.
WEST CARROLL MEN CITED FOR NIGHT HUNTING IN MADISON PARISH Two West Carroll Parish residents, Allen Johnston, 35, and Lonnie Green, 33 both of Pioneer were cited on December 19 by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Agents. The two were cited for allegedly hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting from a moving vehicle and hunting from a public road. LDWF Enforcement Agent Wayne Parker saw the men allegedly shining a spotlight from the window, as their vehicle traveled along Hwy. 80. The men were found to be in possession of a loaded .22-magnum rifle. The spotlight and rifle were seized in connection with the case. The penalty for hunting deer during illegal hours is a fine of up to $950, jail for not more than 120 days, or both, plus court costs and forfeiture of seized items. Hunting from a moving vehicle carries a fine of up to $500, jail for not more than 90 days, or both, plus court costs. The penalty for hunting deer from a public road is a fine of up to $350, jail for not more than 60 days, or both, plus court costs. Agents participating in the case were Senior Agents Wayne Parker and Scott Watson, and Sgt. Cecil Wells.
RAPIDES PARISH NIGHT HUNTERS SENTENCED IN DISTRICT COURT On the night of January 3, 2003, Danny Joe McComic, 25, James V. McComic, 59, and Terry Wayne Brown Jr., 21, all of Boyce were cited by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents for a variety of night hunting violations in Rapides Parish. The men were apprehended after shooting a deer decoy at night from a truck with a .22-caliber rifle off of Valentine Lake Road. On October 28, James V. McComic and Terry Wayne Brown Jr. went before Ninth Judicial District Court Judge Donald T. Johnson with Assistant District Attorney Chris Maxwell representing the state. Both men entered pleas of guilty to hunting deer at night. Each man was fined $900, plus $148.50 in court costs. The court costs were then suspended. Brown's .22 caliber rifle was ordered forfeited to LDWF. On December 1, Danny Joe McComic appeared before Ninth Judicial District Court Judge B. Dexter Ryland with Assistant District Attorney Monique Metoyer representing the state. McComic entered a plea of guilty to the charge of illegal use of a weapon. He was fined $1000, plus $188 in court costs. In addition, McComic was sentenced to a two-year jail sentence, which was suspended. He was placed on probation for five years with a $55 per month supervision fee and the provision that he refrain from all criminal conduct and not be in possession of a firearm for the five year time period. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents who participated in this case were Sgt. Eric Stokes, Senior Agent Travis Burnett and Senior Agent Kevin Hill. |