On November 24, 2010, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents investigated a complaint of illegal night hunting of deer near Highway 115 in the St. Landry/Lone Pine area. Four individuals, Brittany Rae Marcantel, age 21, Russell Matthew Marcantel, age 18, Zachery Gordon Pellerin, age 21, and Nicholas James Rollins, age 18, all of Ville Platte, LA, were arrested and charged. On February 17, 2011 Brittany Marcantel, Russell Marcantel and Zachery Pellerin were convicted on all charges and sentenced to serve six months in the parish jail, suspended, and placed on six months of probation. The three were further ordered to pay fines of $1,500.00 each, plus court costs.
Nicholas Rollins was convicted on all charges on March 24, 2011 and was sentenced to serve six months in the parish jail, suspended, and placed on one year of probation and ordered to pay fines and restitution totaling $2,275.00.
In another matter involving hunting violations, Brannon Scott Buller, age 19, of Ville Platte, was convicted of Hunting During Illegal Hours on March 24, 2011; he was ordered to serve three days in the parish jail and to pay a fine of $1000.00.
District Attorney Trent Brignac noted that illegal night hunting has increased recently in Evangeline Parish, but will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to extensive fines, jail time, and the loss of hunting privileges. He emphasized that while many hunters take the law regarding illegal hunting seriously, some individuals disregard the law and face serious consequences. Brignac stressed that Evangeline Parish offers a wealth of recreational entertainment but with that enjoyment comes a responsibility to protect and preserve wildlife and fishery resources.