La. finally getting tough on illegal hunters

[Ray]

A two-week investigation by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division in late 2009 led to the sentencing of a Pineville man to 10 years imprisonment for illegal drug possession with intent to distribute and illegal possession of a weapon.

Honorable Judge John C. Davidson, of the 9th Judicial District Court of Rapides Parish, sentenced Jeffrey Alan Miles, 37, after he pled guilty to illegal drug possession with intent to distribute, illegal weapon possession and additional wildlife charges on Feb. 24.

Miles pled guilty to the following wildlife charges: two counts of hunting from a moving vehicle; two counts of hunting deer from a roadway; two counts of hunting deer with an illegal weapon; two counts of taking deer from a public road; two counts of hunting deer without tags; failing to tag deer; and two counts of possessing an illegally taken deer; and hunting deer during illegal hours with artificial light. Miles was sentenced to serve 60 days on each charge to run concurrent with his existing 10-year imprisonment sentence.

Judge Davidson also sentenced Miles for not having a big game license and resident hunting license, failing to maintain sex identification, possession of deer meat without a tag and resisting an officer. He was sentenced to serve 10 days that will run concurrently with his existing 10-year sentence.

All sentencing is to be without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence. The court sentenced Miles to be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections. The state will reserve the right to file a Habitual Offender Bill on any future convictions.

After receiving a public complaint, LDWF agents observed Miles and John D. Youngblood, both of Pineville, hunting deer during illegal hours from a moving vehicle on Nov. 7, 2009.

A chase ensued and the suspects abandoned their vehicle taking to the woods on foot. Agents apprehended Youngblood, but Miles eluded Law Enforcement for approximately three weeks until he was finally apprehended by the Pineville Police Department.