1/29/2008

Dr. Bryan C. McCann, 62, of Marksville, Michael Bordelon, 56, of Houma, and Tammy J. Lemoine, 48, of Mansura, each pled guilty on Jan. 23, 2008, in U.S. Magistrate Court in Alexandria to violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. U.S. Magistrate James D. Kirk accepted the guilty pleas, ordered fines, placed them on supervised probation and revoked their hunting privileges for three years.

Bordelon, Lemoine, and McCann pled guilty to taking over the legal limit of ducks. Lemoine and McCann also pled guilty to violating non-toxic shot requirements for using lead shot, and McCann pled guilty to hunting with an unplugged gun.

Kirk ordered McCann to pay $5,730 in fines, Lemoine to pay $1,420 in fines, and Bordelon to pay $1,010 in fines. Kirk also ordered all three men to perform 80 hours of community service, placed each man on supervised probation for three years and revoked their hunting privileges for three years.

The guilty pleas stem from the three men found possessing 48 ducks on Jan. 20, 2007 by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division. Senior Agent Douglas Anderson Jr. was on patrol near Brouillette when he heard gunshots coming from McCann's property and went to investigate.

Anderson found the three men and a 14-year-old juvenile in a duck blind and watched them hunt for about an hour. When the four stopped hunting, Anderson identified himself and began checking licenses, equipment and ducks. He found 48 ducks, which was twice the daily limit.

A total of 80 lead shot shells were seized in the case. The 48 ducks were also seized and later donated to charity.

Assistant U. S. Attorney Joseph Michael prosecuted the case. Sgt. Travis Burnett and Agent Byron Cammack also participated in the case.