Three Houma men were found guilty of oyster violations in Terrebonne Parish Division E Court on May 18.
Judge Randy Bethancourt sentenced Samuel Dobson, 35, the captain of the oyster vessel, to pay $1,654.50 in fines, to forfeit his commercial fishing license for 10 years, 120 hours of community service in a litter abatement program and one year of supervised probation. Judge Bethancourt ordered John Parker III, 25, to pay a $2,629.50 fine and Dylan Parker, 21, to pay a $2,679.50 fine.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents arrested the men for oyster harvesting violations on Dec. 18 in Terrebonne Parish. Agents arrested the men for taking oysters during a closed season on the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation, taking oysters from a polluted area, taking oysters during illegal hours, taking oysters without commercial gear and vessel licenses, and violating the sanitation code (log book).
On Dec. 18 around 8:30 p.m., LDWF agents were patrolling the Sister Lake Seed Reservation when they observed a vessel in the open water of Sister Lake dredging for oysters. Agents stopped the vessel and found the three men in possession of two sacks of oysters.
Agents seized the vessel, two oyster dredges and returned the oysters to the water. The men were booked into the Terrebonne Parish Jail.
The Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation is closed for the 2014/15 season.
Agents participating in this care were Sgt. Thomas Dewitt, Sgt. Brian Marie, Senior Agent Jamie Folse, Agent Richard Bean and Agent Lucas Hidalgo. Assistant District Attorney Chris Erny prosecuted the case.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.