A Port Sulphur pleaded guilty on Jan. 22 in Plaquemines Parish to commercial fishing violations.
Nelson C. Williams III, 39 pleaded guilty for taking commercial fish without a commercial license, taking commercial fish without a vessel license, taking oysters from unleased state water bottoms, violations of the states sanitation code and a third offense of taking oysters from an unapproved area.
Judge Kevin Conner with the 25th Judicial District sentenced Williams to pay a fine of $2,799 including court costs and 210 days of jail suspended. He also sentenced Williams to 40 hours of community service in a parish litter abatement program, revoked his 2015 commercial oyster licenses and that he have a vessel monitoring system installed on any vessel he harvests oysters for period of one year.
The guilty plea stems from an incident that occurred on Feb. 8, 2014 when Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents found Williams harvesting oysters in an area closed to pollution near Port Sulphur. Upon further investigation Williams had no licenses for that year and also had not filled out his log book as required by law.
Jerry Lobrano with the District Attorney Charles Ballay’s office prosecuted the case.
Agents involved in the case were Sgts. Adam Young and Villere Reggio.