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V.F.W. HONORS L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT AGENT AS 2006 OUTSTANDING
OFFICER
CATAHOULA MAN ARRESTED ON GAME
FISH VIOLATIONS
TWO FERRIDAY MEN CITED FOR TAKING GAME FISH ILLEGALLY
THREE MARKSVILLE MEN ARRESTED ON NIGHT HUNTING CHARGES
GRANT PARISH MAN CITED FOR ILLEGAL SIZED BLACK BASS
QUALITY DEER MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION PRESENT L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT
AGENTS WITH GPS SYSTEMS
WEST CARROLL MEN SENTENCED FOR "SHOCKING" FISH
FOUR CITED FOR SHRIMPING DURING A CLOSED SEASON
V.F.W. HONORS L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT AGENT AS 2006 OUTSTANDING OFFICER
Senior Agent Wayne Parker of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries Enforcement Division was honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars
(VFW) Post 2277 and the Ladies Auxiliary in Bastrop, La. on March 11, 2006.
Parker received a recognition award for Outstanding Law Enforcement in
Morehouse Parish.
Parker was presented his award during the VFW annual awards night ceremony.
Each year the VFW recognizes an officer from each public safety agency that
serves Morehouse Parish for excellence in community service. Other agencies
represented and honored during the presentation included Louisiana State
Police, Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office, Bastrop Police Department,
Bastrop Fire Department and Med-Life Ambulance Service.
Parker joined the LDWF Enforcement Division in March of 1988 and has been
promoted twice. He is a trained American Red Cross First Responder,
certified hunting and boating education instructor, field training officer
and a member of the LDWF Honor Guard. He also serves as the senior
financial officer for the Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association.
"Senior Agent Parker is an exceptional officer and always conducts himself
in a professional manner. We are proud to have him as an agent with the
Enforcement Division," commented Parker's regional supervisor, Region 2
Enforcement Capt. Alan Bankston.
CATAHOULA MAN ARRESTED ON GAME FISH VIOLATIONS
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
arrested a Catahoula Parish man for alleged game fish violations and
resisting an officer on Feb. 24.
Austin Arnold Sanders, 55, of Jonesville was booked for taking game fish
illegally, taking over the limit of freshwater crappie, resisting an officer
and improper running lights on his vessel.
Agents observed Sanders raising and emptying a series of hoop nets into his
boat. He kept all the fish removed from the nets. Agents made contact with
Sanders and apprehended him after a brief foot chase. He was later found to
be in possession of 120 crappie and 42 bream. The fish and three hoop nets
were seized as evidence.
Taking game fish illegally carries a fine up to $750, jail time up to 120
days, or both plus court costs. Taking over the limit of crappie is
punishable by a fine up to $350, jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court
costs. The penalty for resisting an officer is a fine up to $500, jail for
not more than six months, or both plus court costs. The fine for improper
running lights is a $50 fine, jail for not more than 15 days or both.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Brian McDowell, Agent Christopher
Hoag and Sr. Agent Robbie Mayo.
TWO FERRIDAY MEN CITED FOR TAKING GAME FISH ILLEGALLY
Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents cited two
Concordia Parish men for alleged game fish violations on Feb. 24.
Vernon M. White Jr., 42, and Vernon M. White III, 20, both of Ferriday were
cited for taking game fish illegally. Vernon M. White Jr. was also cited
for violating recreational gear license requirements, possessing an outboard
and motorboat without serial numbers and an expired boat registration
certificate.
Agents observed the men raising a hoop net. When agents made contact with
the two individuals they found them to be in possession of game fish. The
men also admitted to running wire traps. Agents seized 17 crappie and 45
catfish, which were later donated to charity. A 16 ft. boat and 40 hp motor
were also seized as evidence.
Taking game fish illegally carries a fine up to $750, or jail for not more
than 120 days, or both plus court costs. Violation of recreational gear
license requirements is punishable by a fine of $50, or jail for not more
than 15 days or both. Expired boat registration has a fine of $50, or jail
not more than 15 days or both. Possession of outboard or motorboat with
serial number removed or altered carries a fine up to $250.
Agents participating in the case were Sr. Agent Joey Tarver, Agent Charlie
Ferrington, Sgt. Russ Kiser, Agent Joey Merrill, and Jay Smith from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
THREE MARKSVILLE MEN ARRESTED ON NIGHT HUNTING CHARGES
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
booked three Marksville men into the Concordia Parish jail for allegedly
taking deer during illegal hours on Feb. 10.
Justin Paul Desoto, 18, Justin Paul Brouillette, 18, and Channing Renee
Smith, 20, were cited for taking deer during a closed season, taking deer
during illegal hours, hunting deer from a public road and hunting from a
moving vehicle.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. agents saw and heard a single shot fired from a
vehicle. Upon stopping the vehicle occupied by the three men, the agents
found a spotlight and a .270 caliber rifle. Once agents returned to the
location of the shot they found a freshly shot doe deer.
The .270 caliber rifle, spotlight and one set of night vision binoculars
were seized as evidence. The deer was later donated to charity.
Taking deer during a closed season carries a fine up to $950, or jail time
up to 120 days, or both plus court costs and forfeiture of anything seized.
Taking deer during illegal hours carries a fine up to $950, or jail time up
to 120 days, or both plus court costs. Hunting from a moving vehicle is
punishable by a fine up to $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus
court costs. Hunting from a public road has a fine up to $350, or jail for
not more than 60 days, or both plus court costs.
Agents participating in the case were Sr. Agent Joey Tarver, Sgt. Russ
Kiser, Agent Charlie Ferrington, Agent Christopher Hoag and Agent Joseph
Merrill.
GRANT PARISH MAN CITED FOR ILLEGAL SIZED BLACK BASS
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited a Grant Parish man on Feb. 24 for two counts of taking illegal sized
black bass on Caney Lake in Jackson Parish.
Edward B Holmes Jr. 34, of Georgetown was cited after agents discovered two
slot fish in his livewell. The two bass measured 18 and 18 1/4 inches
maximum total length. Both bass were released alive. Caney Lake has a
protected slot limit for Largemouth Black Bass measuring from 15 to 19
inches maximum total length. Any bass measuring between 15 and 19 inches
must be released immediately.
The penalty for taking illegal sized black bass is a fine from $100-$350, or
jail for not more than 60 days or both plus court cost.
Agents in involved in the case are Sgt. Duane Taylor and Agent Stan House.
QUALITY DEER MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION PRESENT L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT AGENTS WITH
GPS SYSTEMS
The north Louisiana branch of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA)
purchased additional GPS units for Enforcement Division agents from the
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for use in future search and
rescue operations. QDMA presented 11 GPS units to the agents at the Region
II Headquarters in Monroe on Feb. 20.
QDMA is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to
ensuring a sustainable future for white-tailed deer hunting. QDMA also
promotes deer herd management practices that contribute to high-quality deer
hunting opportunities for sportsmen young and old.
Agents who were instrumental in search and rescue efforts during Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita received Garmin E-trex units. The global positioning aids
use satellite reception to indicate the exact longitude/latitude of the
unit. They are rugged, waterproof and highly portable. Units will benefit
agents daily in local search and rescue operations as well as officer safety
and cases made near state-line boundaries.
Ray Owens, secretary of the north Louisiana branch of QDMA made the
presentation. Others present were QDMA board members Scott Irby, M.D.,
Claude Hilton, Michael O'Neal, and Jay Ernst.
WEST CARROLL MEN SENTENCED FOR "SHOCKING" FISH
On Dec. 14, 2005, 5th Judicial District Court Judge Glynn Roberts found
Robert Simms, 65, of Epps and James Hosea, 42, of Delhi guilty of taking
fish illegally. Simms was also found guilty of criminal mischief related to
resisting an officer.
On Sept. 13, 2005, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)
Enforcement Division agents observed Simms and Hosea using electronic
equipment to "shock" fish in Bayou Macon near Epps. When the fish floated
to the surface, the subjects used a dip net to retrieve the fish. The two
were apprehended and charged with taking fish illegally. An aluminum flat
boat with trailer, 25 horsepower outboard engine, 1983 four-wheel drive
vehicle, catfish and all gear were seized.
Judge Roberts sentenced each man to six months suspended jail time, one year
unsupervised probation with conditions and ordered them to pay $200 plus
court costs for taking fish illegally. Hosea lost his hunting privileges
for six months while Simms lost hunting and fishing privileges for one year.
Simms was also fined $100 for criminal mischief. Simms' boat with trailer
and 25 horsepower outboard engine were forfeited to LDWF.
In addition, each violator was ordered to contribute $200 to Louisiana
Operation Game Thief. To report game and fish violations call the Operation
Game Thief hotline number at 1-800-442-2511.
FOUR CITED FOR SHRIMPING DURING A CLOSED SEASON
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited four men in two separate incidents for allegedly shrimping in closed
state waters and other violations during the month of February.
Agents cited Vu Che, 35, and Hoang Nguyen, 50, from both Houma, and Vu Son,
36, of Abbeville, on Feb. 19 for allegedly trawling in state waters during a
closed season and using oversized trawls. Agents patrolling the Gulf of
Mexico near Mound Point in Iberia Parish allegedly observed their vessel
trawling inside the three-mile line. Through plotting, the boat's position
was determined to be approximately one mile inside the state's three-mile
line in closed state waters. A total of 39,614 pounds of shrimp were seized
and sold for $43,514.85. In addition, four shrimp trawls were seized in
connection with the violations. The proceeds from the shrimp sale and
trawls will be held until the disposition of the case.
Albert Galtier, 49, of Erath was cited on Feb. 16 in Vermilion Parish for
allegedly shrimping in state waters during a closed season and for allegedly
taking commercial fish without a commercial fisherman's license. Agents
allegedly observed Galtier using skimmer nets inside the state's three-mile
line in the Gulf of Mexico southwest of Marsh Island. Agents plotted
Galtier's position and determined him to be approximately one mile inside
the three-mile line in closed state waters. The tail contents were returned
to the water, and Galtier was not holding any catch aboard at the time of
the stop.
The cases were made in an area of state outside waters closed by the
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) on Jan. 5, 2006. The
closure area includes that portion of state waters south of the
inside/outside shrimp line as described in LA R.S. 56:495, from the west
shore of Freshwater Bayou to the east shore of the Atchafalaya River Ship
Channel at Eugene Island. All inside waters are currently closed except
Breton and Chandeleur Sounds in Zone 1.
The violations of shrimping in state waters during the closed season and
using oversized trawls are both Class 4 offenses for which the penalty for
each count is a fine of $400 to $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both
plus court costs.
Taking commercial fish without a commercial license is a Class 3 offense for
which the penalty is a fine of $250 to $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or
both plus court costs. These penalties include the forfeiture to the LWFC
of anything seized in connection with the offense.
In addition, upon a first offense conviction for closed season shrimping,
the court may revoke or suspend the violator's gear license for one year
from the date of conviction. During the suspension or revocation, the
violator may be aboard a vessel harvesting or possessing shrimp or shrimp
gear only if the vessel is equipped with an approved vessel monitoring
system. He may also be required to perform community service.
Agents participating in the case were Lt. Bobby Buatt, Senior Agent Keith
Delahoussaye, Senior Agents Gene Viator and Layne Picard and Agent Justin
Sonnier.
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