General

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents citied two Marksville men for alleged wildlife and criminal charges on Jan. 10 in LaSalle Parish.

Blaine McNeal, 45, and Keith Dauzat, 43, were both cited for taking deer during illegal hours with artificial light, taking deer from a moving vehicle, hunting from a public roadway, discharging a firearm from a public roadway, intentional concealment of illegally taken wildlife, open container and felony criminal damage to a federal levee system.

Agents were patrolling the diversion canal near the Dewey Wills Wildlife Management Area in LaSalle Parish when they observed a vehicle traveling down the canal at a slow speed.  Agents then heard several gunshots coming from the direction of the vehicle and observed the vehicle drive down the side of the canal to possibly retrieve what they shot.

The two men got their truck stuck at the bottom of the diversion canal levee while retrieving a deer.  McNeal and Dauzat had two deer in possession, which they hid in the bushes near the truck after getting stuck.

Agents located two does in the bushes near the stuck truck.  Both subjects were arrested and transported to the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Hunting deer during illegal hours and intentional concealment of illegally taken wildlife each bring a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail for each offense.  Hunting from a moving vehicle carries a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.  Hunting from a public road brings a $150 to $300 fine and up to 30 days in jail.  Open container carries a fine up to $263 and up to six months in jail.  Discharging a firearm from a public road brings a $50 fine and up to 30 days in jail. 

The penalties for felony criminal damage to a federal levee system will be issued by the Tensas Levee District Police Office.

Agents participating in the case are Sgt. Charlie Ferrington, Senior Agent Robbie Mayo, Senior Agent Joey Merrill and Tensas Levee Police Officer Brandon Wagoner.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Jan. 11, 2013 -- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents rescued a hunter and a good Samaritan rescued another from the Pearl River Canal in Washington Parish this morning, Jan. 11.

Stephen Leicher, 27, of Bush, and James Rogan, 26, of Bogulusa left out this morning for a duck hunt on the Pearl River Canal in a 13 foot vessel.  Around 5:15 a.m. their vessel had capsized putting Leicher and Rogan in the canal.

At 9:15 a.m. a passing boater noticed Leicher clinging to some woody debris in the canal and was able to get him in his boat.  Leicher was found near entrance of Ox Lot Canal.  They then notified LDWF agents about Rogan who was still missing.

At 10:10 a.m. agents found Rogan on the bank near Past Creek a mile in a half downstream from where Leicher was found.

Both men were checked on scene by Northshore Emergency Medical Services for any injuries and released.  Neither man was wearing a personal flotation device when the vessel capsized.

Agents participating in the search and rescue were Sgt. Darryl Galloway and Senior Agent Joel Cromp.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited an Orleans Parish man for alleged illegal possession of piranha, a live alligator and drug paraphernalia on Jan. 8.

On Dec. 20, 2012 the LDWF agents received a complaint about an apartment tenant that possessed a live alligator and had left it unattended to leave for Christmas vacation.

Agents responded to the residence of Quinn Vanderbosch, 22, of New Orleans.  The agents were granted access to the apartment by a roommate and observed an alligator in a large plastic bin and a large fish tank with piranha swimming.

Agents returned to the residence with a search warrant to seize the illegal fish and alligator, as well as various drug paraphernalia left out in the open.

Agents cited Vanderbosch for possession of a live alligator without a permit, possession of a prohibited species (piranha), and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Due to the similarities with Louisiana waters and the piranha’s natural habitat, as well as the fish’s invasive nature, the fish are strictly forbidden to be possessed or sold within the state with the only exceptions being the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium of the Americas with an LDWF permit.

Possession of an alligator carries $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.  Possession of piranha brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Possession of drug paraphernalia is determined by the presiding judge.

Agents involved in the case are Senior Agent Jared Taylor and Sgt. Kris Bourgeois of LDWF and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Scotty Boudreaux.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Jan. 9, 2013 -- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents arrested a Winnsboro Police Officer, cited another Winnsboro Police Officer and cited a Franklin Parish Detention Center Corrections Officer for their alleged roles in the illegal harvesting of a deer.

Agents cited Winnsboro City Police Officer Chester Coleman, 34, of Enterprise, on Jan. 7 for taking a deer during illegal hours using artificial light, hunting from a moving vehicle, failing to comply with deer tagging requirements, and hunting without basic and big game licenses.  Agents also arrested Coleman for malfeasance in office and booked him into the Franklin Parish Jail.

Agents also cited Winnsboro City Police Officer Joshua Martin, 31, of Winnsboro, and Franklin Parish Detention Center Corrections Officer Hunter Guimbellot, 22, of Winnsboro, on Jan. 5 for taking a deer during illegal hours using artificial light and hunting from a moving vehicle.

Agents were notified by an informant of an illegal hunting incident that occurred in Franklin Parish on Dec. 30, 2012.  Agents learned from the informant that Coleman, Martin and Guimbellot harvested a doe deer around 8 p.m. at the Winnsboro City Industrial Park. 

Coleman was on duty at the time of the illegal hunting activitiy and he shot the deer from his patrol vehicle with Martin’s .308 rifle.  The three men then put the deer into the trunk of the patrol vehicle for later cleaning.

Agents seized the .308 rifle and the deer.  Agents involved in the case are Lt. Scott Watson and Senior Agent Johnny Wilson.

Malfeasance in office is a felony and brings up to five years in jail and $5,000 in fines.  Taking deer during illegal hours brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Hunting from a moving vehicle brings a $250 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail.  Hunting without basic and big game licenses carries a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail for each offense.  Violating deer tagging regulations brings a $100 to $300 fine and up to 60 days in jail. 

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.