Enforcement

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents issued citations to two Monterey men for alleged night hunting violations in Concordia Parish on Dec. 28.

Agents cited Jimmy Maier Jr., 43, and Charles W. Wiley, 71, for taking deer during illegal hours, taking deer illegally from a boat while a deer was swimming and hunting from a moving vessel in Cocodrie Bayou. Maier was also cited for taking deer with an illegal firearm and failing to comply with deer tagging regulations.

Agents were at the residence of Maier and Wiley investigating commercial fishing activity when they discovered a freshly killed spike deer head. Agents questioned Maier who confessed that he and Wiley killed the deer at night from a boat with a .22 cal rifle.

Taking deer during illegal hours carries a fine up to $950, or jail up to 120 days, or both plus court cost. Taking deer illegally from a boat or while deer are swimming carries a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court cost. Hunting from a moving vehicle carries a fine up to $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court cost. Taking deer with an illegal weapon carries a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court cost. Failing to comply with deer tagging regulations carries a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court cost.

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agent Trey Mason and Senior Agent Robbie Mayo. Concordia Parish Deputies Lt. Chris Groh and Deputy Jamie Lipscomb also assisted in the case.

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

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents issued citations to a Simmesport man for alleged night hunting violations in Concordia Parish on Jan. 1, 2011.

Brian Joseph Kimble, 27, was cited for allegedly hunting or taking deer during illegal hours, hunting from a moving vehicle, hunting or taking deer from a public road and discharging a firearm from a public road along Louisiana Hwy. 15.

Senior Agent Trey Mason received a phone call from an anonymous complainant stating that somebody had just shot a deer on La. Hwy. 15 near Deer Park. The complainant was following the subject in his personal vehicle traveling south bound on La, Hwy. 15. Senior Agent Mason was in the area and caught up with both the complainant and the violator and stopped the subject on La. Hwy. 15 in Pointe Coupee Parish approximately 1 1/2 miles south of Concordia Parish.

Kimble admitted to shooting at a deer on La. Hwy. 15 in Concordia Parish approximately six miles south of Deer Park.  The next morning, Jan. 2, an 8-point buck was found dead at the location of the incident the night before. Agents seized the deer and later donated it to a local charity.

Hunting or taking deer during illegal hours carries a fine up to $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court cost. Hunting from a moving vehicle carries a fine up to $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court cost. Hunting or taking deer from a public road carries a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court cost. Discharging a firearm from a public road carries a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court cost.

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agent Trey Mason, Sgt. Cliff Ortis and Senior Agent T.J. Ashley.

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 two men for alleged deer hunting violations on Jan. 1, 2011 in Red River Parish.

Agents cited Clifton Daniel Latour, 31, and Aaron Christopher Cannon, 26, both from Coushatta, for hunting deer during illegal hours with an artificial light, hunting deer from a public road and hunting from a moving vehicle. Agents also cited Latour for not possessing a driver's license.

Agents found the suspects driving on Springhill Church Road and using a spotlight to shine for deer from a moving vehicle. Agents stopped the vehicle and found a loaded Remington .243 rifle in the front seat.

Hunting deer during illegal hours with an artificial light brings a fine between $900 to $950, or jail time up to 120 days or both. Hunting deer from a public road carries a fine between $100 to $350, or jail time up to 60 days or both.  Hunting from a moving vehicle brings a fine between $250 to $500, or jail time up to 90 days or both. For driving without possession of a driver's license, Latour faces a $170 fine.

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

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents assigned to the Statewide Strike Force charged six men with possessing 94 red drum on Dec. 27, 2010 in Fourchon.

Strike Force agents cited Eric R. Wood, 23, of Ethel; John M. Calhoun III, 22, of Zachary; Anthony M. Guidry, 32, of Larose; Tad M. Gaspard, 40, of Lockport; John M. Calhoun Jr., 46, of Greenwell Springs; and Ted Joseph Gaspard, 50, of Lockport; for possessing more than 10 red drum each.

Agents received a complaint from a confidential informant in reference to several subjects angling from the bank near Flotation Canal located in Fourchon.

Agents arrived on scene to setup surveillance and observed the subjects catching several red drum and placing the fish in a boat that was in the bed of a truck. After observing the subjects for more than an hour, agents approached the subjects to conduct a license and creel compliance check.

The six men were found to be in possession of 94 red drum ranging from 16 inches to 25 inches in length. Louisiana law allows five red drum per day per fisherman and 10 fish for the possession limit per fisherman.

Wood was issued an additional citation for angling without a resident saltwater license. Calhoun III was issued additional citations for angling without resident basic and saltwater licenses.

The six men were also issued civil restitution citations for the value of the red drum.

If convicted of the over limit of red drum, the men face fines between $400 and $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court cost.

Agents involved in the case were Lt. Joseph Arnaud and Senior Agent Michael Williams, along with the assistance of Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol Sgt. Jeff Prevost and Deputy Kent Matherne.

Agents seized and donated the 94 red drum to the Larose/Cutoff Youth Center.

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

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division strike force agents charged a Metairie man on Dec. 23 for alleged theft by insurance fraud, filing a false application and injuring public records.

LDWF agents assigned to the southern strike force charged Bryan M. Miguez, 49, of Metairie, for insurance fraud after a joint investigation with the National Insurance Crime Bureau and Progressive Insurance Company.

Miguez accepted a payment from the Progressive Insurance Company for his boat, which Miguez claimed was lost during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In early 2010, Miguez contacted Progressive Insurance Company claiming to have recently found the boat. However, investigators found that Miguez had been in possession of the boat since early 2006.

If convicted of theft by insurance fraud, Miguez could face imprisonment for up to 10 years, or a fine up to $3,000 or both. For filing a false application, Miguez could be ordered to pay a $500 fine, or sentenced for up to 90 days in jail or both. If convicted of Injuring Public Records, Miguez could be sentenced to up to five years in jail, or a fine up to $5,000 or both.

Agents involved in the case are Lt. Joseph Arnaud, Sgt. Todd Laviolette and Agent Ronnie Engelhard.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited two Baskin residents for alleged night hunting violations on Dec. 11 in Franklin Parish.

Sr. Agent Albert Tarver and Sr. Agent Johnny Wilson cited Sherrie A. Mccarty, 23, and Robert Guimbellot, 36, for hunting wild quadrupeds during illegal hours with a artificial light, hunting from a public road, hunting from a moving vehicle and possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a vehicle on a public road. Agents also arrested and booked Guimbellot into the Franklin Parish Detention Center for an alleged driving while under the influence (DWI) charge.

Hunting wild quadrupeds at night, hunting from a public road and hunting from a moving vehicle each carry a fine between $250 and $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court cost. Possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a vehicle on a public road and DWI penalties will be set by the presiding judge assigned to the case.

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

A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agent arrested an Arcadia man on Dec. 2 for alleged illegal possessing of a firearm by a convicted felon and booked him into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.

Rhett Simms, 46, was charged with two counts of illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon, hunting without a basic or big game hunting license and failing to comply with deer tagging regulations.

The penalty for hunting without a basic or big game hunting license is a fine of $50, or up to 15 days in jail or both for each offense. The penalty for a deer tagging violation is a fine between $100 and $350, or up to 60 days in jail or both. The sentence for a convicted felon in possession of a firearm is between 10 and 20 years in jail.

LDWF Sgt. Ryan Brasher participated in the case.

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

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents are seeking leads for several illegal black bear killings that have taken place recently.

The killings have taken place from coastal bear habitat in St. Mary and Vermillion Parishes to Tensas Parish.  The bears have either been shot or trapped in hog snares by poachers.

Citizens are reminded that killing a Louisiana black bear is a violation of both state law and the federal Endangered Species Act.  Violators are subject to penalties of up to $50,000 and six months in jail.  In addition, a civil restitution fine of $10,000 per bear may be imposed on anyone convicted of killing a black bear in Louisiana.

Anyone with information regarding these illegal bear killings or any other wildlife crime should call the Louisiana Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-442-2511.  Cash rewards up to $5,000 are offered for information leading to the apprehension of individuals harming a black bear.  Callers will also remain anonymous.

"The department is working very hard to remove the Louisiana black bear from the Endangered Species List with the goal of maintaining a sustainable population that can support legal hunting. Illegal killing of Louisiana black bears may impede this effort and make this goal more difficult to attain," said Maria Davidson, Large Carnivore Program Manager for LDWF.

Lt. Col. Keith LaCaze of LDWF's Enforcement Division added that “The loss of these animals is regrettable and agents of the Enforcement Division will make every effort to locate the poachers responsible for these crimes.”

For more information, contact Lt. Col. Keith LaCaze at 225-765-2988 or klacaze@wlf.la.gov. 

In an effort to help children in need this Christmas season, members of the Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association (LWAA) in the Monroe area have this year contributed $2,000 toward the toy drive organized by the radio station K104 and the Radio People in Monroe.

LWAA President Lt. Scott Mathews said the toys were purchased and delivered to the local radio station on Dec. 9 and will be distributed to those in need in time for Christmas.

Mathews also thanked Spotted Dog Sporting Goods in Columbia and Academy Sporting Goods in West Monroe for providing discounts that allowed more toys to be bought for the drive.

“Both stores have been excellent partners in our attempt help out local children in need,” Mathews said. “The agents association would also like to thank K104 and the Radio People for organizing the drive. Through their contacts and wide reach, we know the toys will find a home with the children who most need them.”

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Law Enforcement Division Chief Col. Winton Vidrine commended the LWAA for the generous donation. “The gifts are a wonderful way of helping those in need. The toys will surely brighten Christmas morning for a lot of kids,” Vidrine said.

The LWAA is a fraternal organization whose members are LDWF Enforcement Division agents.

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

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement special agents are seeking information regarding the killing of two federally protected southern bald eagles.

Agents believe both eagles were killed on or about Dec. 7 on the East Bank area of Plaquemines Parish.

Deputy Roy Lally of the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office discovered the first illegally killed bald eagle along the Mississippi River levee near the town of Phoenix located in Plaquemines Parish. LDWF Senior Agent Brett Nabors responded to the area to take custody of the bird and begin an investigation.

During the ensuing search of the area where the first eagle was found, LDWF Lt. Robert Martin found a second dead eagle. Agents believe that both eagles were killed using the same method. Both eagles were delivered to the USFWS and will be forensically tested for cause of death.

The southern bald eagle is listed on the Endangered Species list, and fines up to $100,000 may be imposed for shooting or injuring the bird. Anyone providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of the guilty party is eligible for significant cash rewards.

Anyone with information may call Special Agent Stephen Clark at the USFWS office in Lacombe at 985-882-3756 or the LDWF Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-442-2511.

For more information, contact Capt. Steve McManus at the LDWF Region 8 Enforcement Office at 504-284-2024 or smcmanus@wlf.la.gov.