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OYSTER DEALER PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL SALES CHARGES
BEAUREGARD PARISH MAN SENTENCED FOR LITTERING
AGENTS CITE EARLY FROGGERS ON ATTAKAPAS WMA
AGENTS MAKE DWI ARREST ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
IBERVILLE PARISH MEN ARRESTED ON VARIETY OF CHARGES
SEVEN FISHERMEN CITED ON ROCKEFELLER REFUGE
COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN RESCUED AT NIGHT
OYSTER DEALER PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL SALES CHARGES
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Special Investigative
Unit identified an unlicensed wholesale/retail seafood dealer shipping
thousands of sacks of oysters out of state without recording required
purchase information and failing to report the shipments to the LDWF as
required by law.
On July 1, 2005 agents charged Kyle Sadler, 36, of Bourg, owner/manager of
MPM Fisheries, with one count of operating his business without a
wholesale/retail dealers license, one count of violating interstate commerce
regulations by shipping 5,600 sacks of shell stock oysters, which were
landed in Louisiana, to North Carolina, Virginia and Mississippi, 83 counts
of failing to maintain records on the purchase of 7,206 sacks of shell stock
oysters and three counts of failure report commercial fisheries data to the
department on 2,891 sacks of shell stock oysters. The charges were filed in
Terrebonne Parish. The violations were for shell stock oysters taken and
transported out of state from January 2005 through June 2005.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries uses reported
fishery-landing records to manage the state's fisheries. Accurate
information is essential to the management of the state's fisheries
resources.
On June 12, 2006, Kyle Sadler entered guilty pleas, in Division A of the
Terrebonne Parish court, on all charges presented in this case. Thirty
Second Judicial District Court Judge Joe Larke assessed Kyle Sadler with the
following penalties: count 1, 90 days in parish prison; count 2, 120 days;
counts 3 through 85, 90 days in parish prison; counts 86 through 88, 90 days
in parish prison. All counts to run concurrent. Sadler was ordered to pay
restitution to the department in the amount of $53,658. Jail terms were
suspended upon the condition that Sadler pays the restitution to the
department. He was placed on two years supervised probation during which
time he has to pay the $53,658. Sadler was ordered to pay the restitution
in 24 monthly installments of $2,235.75 per month.
According to LDWF Law Enforcement Division Administrator Col. Winton Vidrine
the case is very significant. "This type of activity cannot and will not be
tolerated in Louisiana. When someone steals resources from the people of
this state, justice should be served, and in this case it was," he said.
"This case identifies the importance in the roles of the district attorneys
and the judges in the overall scheme of fisheries management," he added.
Agents participating in the investigation were Lt. Jay Diez, Sgt. Billy
Gomillion and Sgt. Brian Marie.
BEAUREGARD PARISH MAN SENTENCED FOR LITTERING
On May 23, 2006 Brandon L. Harris, 18, of Longville was sentenced by Judge
Stuart Kay of the 36th Judicial District in Beauregard Parish for gross
littering.
An investigation began in January by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries Enforcement Division agents after 14 bags of household trash were
found in Barnes Creek. Among the trash were clues that led agents to
Harris's residence in Longville. After questioning, Harris admitted to
placing the 14 bags into one of the state's Natural Scenic Rivers.
Judge Kay ordered Harris to pay a fine of $750 plus court costs in the
amount of $98.50. Harris was ordered to serve eight hours of community
service in the Litter Abatement Program, and was placed on six months of
supervised probation. The supervised probation at $55 per month is to be
converted to unsupervised probation after all fines and community service
are met.
Agents participating in this case were Sgts. David Liles and Keith Aucoin
and Lt. Jesse Savoie. Assistant District Attorney Jimmy Lestage prosecuted
the case.
AGENTS CITE EARLY FROGGERS ON ATTAKAPAS WMA
In the late evening hours of May 31, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited nine Louisiana residents for
allegedly hunting frogs during a closed season in four separate cases on
Attakapas Wildlife Management Area in lower St. Martin Parish.
The 2006 frog-hunting season re-opened at 12 a.m. on June 1 following a
closed season during the months of April and May.
At 10:50 p.m., agents discovered Jason Chambers, 32, Henry Lissard, 57, and
Susan Lissard, 55, all of New Iberia, with 44 frogs in their possession.
Then at 11:11 p.m., Toby Chevert, 29, and Armand Metrejean, 30, both of
Pierre Part, were found with one frog in their possession.
Agents then stopped John Brown, 32, of Belle Rose, and James Fitzgerald, 45,
of Ventress at 11:28 p.m. with 338 frogs in their possession.
At 11:30 p.m., agents apprehended Phillip Dimaggio, 17, of Morgan City, and
Ian Lecompte, 17, of Berwick with 22 frogs in their possession.
Taking frogs during a closed season is punishable by a fine between $250 and
$500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court costs. All frogs were
seized and returned to the water.
Agents participating in the cases were Sgt. Ross Mire, Senior Agent Jason
Romero, and Agents Scott Dupre and David Boudreaux.
AGENTS MAKE DWI ARREST ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
arrested a Jefferson Parish resident on May 27 for allegedly operating a
boat while intoxicated on the Barataria Waterway.
Agents initially stopped Donald Guillot, 48, of Westwego, to perform a
boating safety inspection. Upon contact with Guillot, the agents detected a
strong alcoholic odor from his breath. After Guillot performed poorly on
several standardized field sobriety tests, agents arrested him. Guillot was
given the opportunity to take the Intoxilizer 5000 chemical test and
submitted a breath sample with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal
limit of .08 percent. He was then booked into the Jefferson Parish
Correction Center.
A DWI first conviction brings a fine between $300 and $1000 and imprisonment
between 10 days and 6 months.
Agents participating in the investigation were Sgt. Eddie Skena and Sr.
Agent Jason Russo.
IBERVILLE PARISH MEN ARRESTED ON VARIETY OF CHARGES
In the morning hours of May 19, 2006, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries Enforcement Division agents apprehended three Bayou Sorrel men and
one juvenile for allegedly hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting from a
moving vehicle and taking frogs during a closed season. The adults were
also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Acting on a tip from an informant who heard shots fired that night, agents
found Randy D. Edwards, 22, Michael Day, 24, Brian Daly, 25 and the juvenile
all of Bayou Sorrel to be in possession of two deer, five frogs and an
assortment of stolen goods taken from area camps.
Agents seized the deer, frogs, stolen items and a 12-gauge shotgun that will
be held as evidence. The two deer were donated to charity and the frogs
were released back to the wild.
The adults were booked into the Iberville Parish Jail and the juvenile was
cited and released to the custody of his mother. The Iberville Parish
Sheriff's Office is investigating the possession of stolen items charge.
The penalty for hunting during illegal hours is a fine between $900 and
$950, jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court costs and forfeiture of
anything seized. Hunting from a moving vehicle is punishable by a fine
between $250 and $500, jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court costs.
The penalty for contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile is a fine up
to $500, or imprisonment of not more than 6 months or both. The penalty for
taking frogs during a closed season is a fine between $250 and $500, jail
time up to 90 days or both plus court costs.
A civil restitution was also assessed in the amount of $1049.08 for
replacement value of the deer.
Agents participating in the case were Lt. Ronald Hebert and Sr. Agent Jerry
Stassi.
SEVEN FISHERMEN CITED ON ROCKEFELLER REFUGE
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
issued eight citations to seven sport fishermen for allegedly not abiding by
the rules and regulations on a wildlife refuge by taking more than the legal
limit of shrimp and crabs on Rockefeller Refuge in Cameron Parish from May
15-18.
On May 15, Johnnie Theall, 43, of Kaplan, was cited for taking more than
the legal limit of shrimp. On May 16, Ronnie Trosclair, 39, and Curtis
Oubre, 62, both from Lafayette were cited for taking more than the legal
limit of shrimp. Oubre was also cited for taking too many crabs. Also on
May 16, Donald Duhon, 52, of Duson was cited for taking more than the legal
limit of shrimp. On May 17, Elisha Freeman Jr., 56, and Bruce Fruge, 60,
both of Crowley were cited for taking more than the legal limit of shrimp.
Agents cited Ronald Jones, 46, of Ville Platte for taking more than the
legal limit of crabs on May 17.
A total of 107.5 pounds of shrimp and 556 blue crabs were seized in
connection with these violations. The shrimp were donated to the Salvation
Army and a local homeless shelter. The crabs were returned to the waters of
Rockefeller Refuge.
The recent cool fronts contributed to shrimp leaving the marsh and accessing
the water control structures located on Rockefeller Refuge. Many of the
violations were committed at the water control structures by fishermen using
cast nets. The recreational limit on shrimp on Rockefeller Refuge during
the closed inside shrimp season is 10 pounds per boat or vehicle and during
the open inside shrimp season 25 pounds per boat or vehicle.
Rockefeller Refuge is located in Zone 3. The inside shrimp season opened on
May 22 at noon in Zone 3.
The penalty for not abiding by rules and regulations on a wildlife refuge is
punishable by a fine between $100-to-$350, or jail time up to 60 days, or
both plus court cost.
Agents participating in the cases were Lt. Remy Broussard, Sgt. David
Sanford, Senior Agent Aaron Herpin, and Cadets Garret Kimble and Beau
Robertson.
COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN RESCUED AT NIGHT
Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
rescued three crab fishermen after their boat sank in White Lake in
Vermilion parish on May 9. The three fishermen were identified as Michael
Broussard, 35, Jeffery Ronsonette, 27, and Daryl Fluke all from Charenton.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., agents received a phone call from the Vermilion
Parish Sheriff's office in regards to a crabber who had not returned from an
earlier trip to White Lake. The wife of one of the crabbers stated that her
husband left their residence in Charenton at 4:30 a.m. to move his crab
traps from Grand Lake to White Lake. Agents immediately proceeded to White
Lake to conduct a search of the area.
Sgt. Aaron Monceaux and Agent Derek Logan proceeded towards a small fire on
the southwest bank of White Lake. Due to the rough seas, agents could not
maneuver their patrol boat up to the beach near the fire. Sgt. Monceaux
removed his gun belt and waded to the bank, while Agent Logan kept the boat
from beaching due to the high winds and rough seas. The three men were
assisted back to the patrol boat and transported to Talens Landing in
Klondike.
Other Agents assisting in the rescue were Sgt. David Sanford and Agent Beau
Robertson. |
