Louisiana Officers Cited For Hunting Violations
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 killing 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 took 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 when 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.—courtesy LDWF
