Minden Press-Herald

Haughton man charged with shooting inside city limits; LDWF cites 10 for illegal hunting

A Haughton man who has been cited for illegal hunting by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has been arrested by Minden Police for shooting a firearm from a moving vehicle inside the city limits.

Devan Lucas, 20, of the 2600 block of Foster Road, Haughton is charged with illegal use of a firearm.

Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper said his office was contacted by LDWF concerning Lucas and a second, unidentified man, who were in trouble for discharging firearms illegally.

"During their investigation, LDWF learned from eyewitnesses that one night Lucas discharged a .270 caliber high-powered rifle from a moving vehicle going out Lee Street," Cropper said. "Then, the other subject discharged a shotgun from a moving vehicle on Main Street between the (Webster Parish) courthouse and a local bank."

Reports said the subject that fired on Main Street hit the bank's sign. The chief said he sent detectives Heath Balkom and Chris Cheatham to the bank.

"They (bank employees) didn't realize the sign had been broken or replaced," Cropper said. "Even though we couldn't find any damage to the sign, we decided to bring these guys in."

Cropper said going by LDWF information, Minden police had illegal use of weapons charges on both subjects for discharging the firearms from a moving vehicle within the city limits.

"Thursday, we obtained warrants for both, but we just arrested Lucas," Cropper said. "We have not been able to make contact with the other man yet."

According to LDWF, their agents cited Lucas, for hunting from a moving vehicle, hunting deer using illegal methods, discharging a firearm from a public road, taking deer from a public road, taking deer during illegal hours, hunting without muzzleloader, big game or resident licenses and failing to comply with deer tagging requirements.

In addition, agents cited nine other citizens for alleged deer hunting violations from December, 2011 to February, 2012 in Webster and Bienville parishes.

Michael Jay Brunson, 19, of Heflin, was cited for hunting deer during illegal hours, hunting deer from a public road, discharging a firearm from a public road, hunting from a moving vehicle and taking deer with artificial light.

Max Boyd, 21, of Ringgold, was cited for hunting and taking deer during illegal hours, hunting deer from a public road, discharging a firearm from a public road, taking a spotted fawn and hunting from a moving vehicle.

Nathan Jensen, 19, of Minden, was cited for discharging a firearm from a public road, hunting and taking deer during illegal hours, failing to comply with deer tagging requirements, hunting and taking deer from a public road and hunting from a moving vehicle.

Sean Tyler Tobin Gray, 18, of Sibley, was cited for hunting and taking deer during illegal hours, hunting deer from a public road, hunting from a moving vehicle, discharging a firearm from a public road, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Taylor Collins, 18, and Jonathon Turner, 20, both of Minden, and Richard Watkins, 18, of Haughton, were each cited for hunting and taking deer during illegal hours, hunting from a moving vehicle and hunting and taking deer from a public road.

Asa Crownover, 19, and Michael Franklin, 18, both of Minden, were each cited for hunting and taking deer during illegal hours.

Agents are still investigating how many deer were taken, but as of now have allegedly confirmed 15 deer taken illegally.

According to a LDWF news release, hunting without a resident license, hunting without a resident big game license and hunting without a muzzleloader license carry a $50 fine and up to 15 days of jail for each offense.

Hunting from a moving vehicle, hunting deer using an illegal method and taking deer from a public road each carry a fine of $100 to $350 and up to 60 days in jail for each offense.

Taking a spotted fawn carries a fine of $500 to $750 and 15 to 30 days in jail.

Hunting deer during illegal hours or with artificial light carries a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail and forfeiture of anything seized.

Possession of marijuana carries a fine up to $5,000 or jail time between two and five years.

LDWF Agents involved in the case were Capt. Richie McCarthy, Sgt. Michael Kelley, Senior Agent Jared McIver, Senior Agent Cullom Schexnyder, Senior Agent Bryant Coburn and Senior Agent Wesley Duck.