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WEST
BATON ROUGE NIGHT HUNTER CITED
L.D.W.F. RECRUITING ENFORCEMENT CADETS FOR NEXT ACADEMY
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR LITTER WEEKEND LITTER FACT SHEET
JENNINGS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL VIOLATIONS
THREE MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO FEDERAL VIOLATIONS
SEVERAL PLEAD GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT
L.D.W.F. AGENTS SEIZE BOATS IN ILLEGAL FISH CASES
L.D.W.F. AGENTS CITE TWO FOR GAME FISH VIOLATIONS IN
CONCORDIA PARISH
WEST BATON ROUGE NIGHT HUNTER CITED
On March 1, 2007, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement
Division agents cited a West Baton Rouge Parish man for allegedly hunting
rabbits during illegal hours.
Herbert Maze, 46 of Port Allen, was cited after agents received a tip that
night hunting was taking place. An investigation revealed 12 rabbits had
been taken after legal hours ended and with the aid of a headlight.
Maze was also issued a civil restitution summons in the amount of $196.80
for the replacement value of the rabbits. The 12 rabbits were seized and
donated to charity.
The penalty for hunting rabbits during illegal hours or with an artificial
light is a fine between $250-$500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus
court costs.
Agents participating in the case were Lt. Donald Salpietra and Senior Agent
Jerry Stassi.
L.D.W.F. RECRUITING ENFORCEMENT CADETS FOR NEXT ACADEMY
The Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement
Division is currently seeking interested candidates who want to become LDWF
enforcement agents for the next LDWF Cadet Academy Training Program, which
is scheduled to begin on June 18, 2007.
Interested applicants must submit a copy of their completed State Employment
Application Form (SF-10) to the Department of State Civil Service and take
the required LEAPS 7500 Exam by March 31, 2007. After taking the exam,
applicants must also submit one copy of their application indicating
specific parishes as announced with attached additional supporting
documentation to LDWF Human Resources Office by hand, fax or mail postmarked
no later than March 31, 2007. Applications via e-mail will not be accepted.
SF-10 Application Forms are available online at
www.civilservice.gov, any
state agency's human resources office or job service office. For
information about the job vacancy announcement, the minimum qualifications
required to qualify for the job title, Wildlife Enforcement Cadet,
additional supporting documentation to be attached to the application, and
contact information, please visit the Civil Service website at
www.cilvilservice.louisiana.gov and click on the link "Search for Jobs," (or
JOB SEARCH), which list available parishes as announced and contains
application instructions. Applicants should apply and list on their SF-10
application only those parishes that are announced and in which they would
be willing to live and work.
All Enforcement Cadets receive full state benefits and pay from the first
day of training. The starting pay is $30,000 a year. Cadets will train in
Baton Rouge Monday through Friday, but will be allowed to go home on the
weekends and holidays.
"This is one of the greatest jobs in the world if you enjoy law enforcement
work and have a love for the outdoors," LDWF Enforcement Division's Lt. Col.
Keith LaCaze said. "The job is exciting and challenging and can involve
search and rescue resulting in saving lives."
LaCaze said that he would like to have 20 cadets in this Academy and that an
agent's life is never boring. "It is seasonal in nature as the job changes
according to the time of year with hunting regulations enforcement in the
fall and winter and boating and fishing in the spring and summer."
For more information about testing and application information, please visit
www.civilservice.louisiana.gov or
www.yourfuture.louisiana.com or call the
LDWF's Human Resources Office at 225-765-2850.
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR LITTER WEEKEND LITTER FACT SHEET
LITTER STATISTICS
_ Litter directly costs Louisiana taxpayers $15 million annually.
_ Litter contributes to flooding when it collects in canals preventing
water from draining properly.
_ The four most common litter items in Louisiana are cigarettes,
fast-food packaging, candy/snack packaging and beverage containers.
_ Litter is a health risk to you and your pets as it attracts rodents,
vermin and germs.
_ Cigarette butts are dangerous to wildlife and have been found in the
stomachs of cats, dogs, birds and squirrels.
_ Litter takes a long time to biodegrade. An orange peel takes six
months, a plastic bag 10-20 years and paper from two to five months.
LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF LITTERING
Intentional littering is intentionally disposing of litter in a public place
or on private property not owned by the offender. Intentional littering can
result in fines of $250 and eight hours of community service in a litter
abatement program.
Simple littering includes creating a condition in which the person knew (or
should have known) would likely result in the disposal of litter on public
or private property not belonging to the offender. Using a truck bed as a
garbage can or throwing a cigarette butt out of a window is simple
littering. Penalties for simple littering start at $75 in fines and eight
hours of community service. Penalties are doubled for second-time
offenders.
WHAT CITIZENS CAN DO TO HELP
_ Clean out truck beds and refrain from throwing cigarette butts or
other trash out of cars or watercraft.
_ Carry a litterbag in your car and boat.
_ Securely cover trash containers to prevent animals from spreading
litter.
_ If citizens do witness littering or illegal dumping violations, they
are urged to call the state anti-litter hotline at 1-888-LIT-R-BUG
(1-888-548-7284).
JENNINGS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL VIOLATIONS
Thomas Harelson,
51, of Jennings, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Alonzo
Wilson in the in Lake Charles on Feb. 15 and entered a plea of guilty to
taking over the legal limit of ducks.
Harelson was cited on Sept. 25, 2006 in Cameron Parish for killing 44 teal.
The daily bag limit for teal during the teal season is four per person.
Magistrate Wilson accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Harelson to pay a
fine of $1,500, serve two years probation, 120 hours community service and
suspended his hunting privileges for 18 months. Assistant U.S. Attorney
Todd Clement prosecuted the case.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Aaron Monceaux and Senior Agent
Derek Logan.
THREE MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO FEDERAL
VIOLATIONS
Three men identified as Thomas Gosserand, 43, of Livonia, John Niland
III,
43, of New Roads, and John Sylvest, 60, of Ventress, appeared before U.S.
Magistrate Alonzo Wilson in Lake Charles on Feb. 15 and entered pleas of
guilty to taking over the legal limit of ducks.
The men were cited on Nov. 12, 2005 in Jefferson Davis Parish for killing 45
ducks jointly. The daily bag limit for ducks during the regular duck season
is six per person.
Magistrate Wilson accepted their guilty pleas and sentenced the three men to
each pay a fine of $1,000, complete 40 hours of community service, 18 months
probation and suspended their hunting privileges for one year. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Todd Clement prosecuted the cases.
Agents participating in these cases were Lt. Robert Buatt, Sgts. Aaron
Monceaux and Kane Thomas, Senior Agent Gene Viator, and Agents Buddy Murray,
Jason Stagg and Justin Sonnier.
SEVERAL PLEAD GUILTY IN
FEDERAL COURT
Michael Fisher Jr., 60, and Rickey L. McMickens, 45, both of
Alexandria,
along with Neal L. McMickens, 42, Francis W. Melder, 59, Joseph M. Vincent,
47, and Thomas R. Vincent Jr., 48, all of Pineville, appeared before U.S.
Federal Magistrate James D. Kirk in Alexandria on Feb. 15 and entered pleas
of guilty to taking over the legal limit of ducks and failure to maintain
custody of ducks accepted several guilty pleas. Fisher and Melder also pled
guilty to hunting ducks without a federal duck stamp.
Magistrate Kirk sentenced each man to pay a fine of $3,070 and serve 80
hours of community service. He also placed them on probation for one year
and suspended their hunting privileges for three years. Fisher and Melder
were each fined an additional $160 for the duck stamp violation.
On Nov. 11, 2006, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement
Division Sgt. Travis Burnett and Senior Agent Spencer Cole checked the
hunters in the area of Douglas Farms, located between Interstate 49 and the
Diversion Canal south of Alexandria. Agents found the six hunters to be in
possession of 56 ducks, 52 of which were wood ducks. The daily limit on
wood ducks is two per hunter.
In a separate case, James A. Decker III, 30, of Pineville, Gary Eldridge,
51, of Deville, and Robert Monk, 30, of Lafayette, all pled guilty to
hunting doves over a baited area. Magistrate Kirk sentenced each man to pay
a fine of $510, placed them on probation for one year and suspended their
hunting privileges for one year.
On Sept. 3, 2005, LDWF Enforcement agents watched as the three men hunted
doves on a field, located off of Bayou Road near Cheneyville, that agents
had previously documented as being baited with wheat and corn. Lt. Eric
Stokes, Sgt. Travis Burnett, Sgt. Gabe Guidry, Senior Agent Kevin Hill and
Senior Agent Jay Callegari participated in the investigation.
Roger Hanson, 56, and Joseph Lang, 46, both of Atlanta, La., pled guilty to
taking over the legal limit of ducks. Hanson also pled guilty to possession
of lead shot, and Lang pled guilty to possession of untagged ducks.
Magistrate Kirk sentenced Hanson to pay a fine of $2,220 and Lang to pay a
fine of $1,920. He also placed both men on probation for one year and
suspended their hunting privileges for one year.
On Jan. 14, 2006, LDWF Enforcement Sgts. Michael Bonner, Marcus Constance,
and Rusty Perry watched as the two men, along with a juvenile, hunted ducks
at False Lake near the Red River in Winn Parish. Agents found the hunters
to be in possession of 31 ducks, which was 13 ducks over the limit.
Michael Bladel, 42, of Pollock, pled guilty to killing an American Bald
Eagle. Bladel was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,025 and was placed on
probation for one year. On Dec. 20, 2005, LDWF Enforcement Capt. Peter
Oliver and Lt. Stokes received a complaint that Bladel had killed a Bald
Eagle and removed the talons and tail feathers. After questioning, Bladel
admitted that he shot the eagle thinking it was a "chicken hawk." He then
cut the talons and tail feathers off and threw the American Bald Eagle away
in a nearby dumpster. Sgts. Michael Bonner, Marcus Constance, and Rusty
Perry assisted in the investigation.
U.S. Assistant District Attorney Howard Parker prosecuted the cases.
L.D.W.F. AGENTS SEIZE BOATS IN ILLEGAL FISH CASES
Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited Davis B. Corley, 47, and William D. Smith, 47, both of Pineville,
along with Herbert R. Rusk, 48, of Dry Prong, for allegedly possessing
illegally taken fish on Red River in Rapides Parish on Feb. 7.
Senior Agent Spencer Cole and Agent Byron Cammack were on patrol on Red
River when they saw Smith and Rusk in a boat near Bayou Maria. As the
agents approached the two men, Rusk started throwing fish overboard.
Agents found Smith and Rusk with 212 channel catfish, three crappie and
three bream that they admitted taking from recreational hoop nets belonging
to Smith. Agents also discovered that 183 of the catfish were under the
11-inch minimum size limit required on channel catfish. The legal limit for
catfish is 100 per day with no more than 25 under the minimum size limit.
The agents then saw Corley and a juvenile in a boat in the same area. They
found Corley to be in possession of 14 crappie, one black bass and a few
catfish that he admitted taking from his recreational wire nets.
Corley, Rusk, and Smith were each cited for possessing game fish illegally.
Smith was also cited for two counts of possessing more than the limit of
catfish.
Agents seized 212 catfish (158 of which were returned alive to the water),
17 crappie, three bream and one black bass in the case and donated them to
charity. Agents also seized two boats, two 50 hp outboard motors, one boat
trailer, three hoop nets and four wire nets.
The penalty for possessing game fish illegally is a fine between $400 and
$950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court costs and forfeiture
of anything seized. Possessing over the legal limit of catfish is
punishable by a fine between $100 to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or
both plus court costs.
L.D.W.F. AGENTS CITE TWO FOR GAME FISH VIOLATIONS IN
CONCORDIA PARISH
Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited two men in Concordia Parish on Feb. 3 for alleged game fish
violations.
Jimmy N. Taylor, 42, of Wildsville, and Tony Tullos, 44, of Jonesville, were
each cited for taking game fish illegally, no recreational fishing license
and for violating recreational gear license requirements.
Agents observed the men raising and emptying their hoop nets into a boat.
When agents made contact with the two individuals, they found them to be in
possession of game fish. Agents seized 24 crappie, two catfish and one hoop
net. The fish were later donated to charity.
Taking game fish illegally carries a fine up to $950, jail time up to 120
days, or both plus court costs. Fishing without a recreational license and
violating recreational gear license requirements both carry fines of $50,
jail time up to 15 days or both. The state is also seeking civil
restitution for the fish.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Russ Kiser, Senior Agent Robbie
Mayo, Agent Leya Grover and Agent Joey Merrill.
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