DEER DECOY LANDS POACHERS IN JAIL

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John D. Youngblood, 42, and Jeffrey A. Miles, 37, both of Pineville were arrested in Rapides Parish for numerous hunting and drug violations after they allegedly shot a deer decoy near the Camp Beauregard Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Nov. 7.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents had set up the decoy after receiving complaints that Youngblood and Miles were hunting deer at night on the WMA.

After a short pursuit by LDWF agents, the two men abandoned their vehicle and fled into a wooded area on foot. Agents captured Youngblood after they found him hiding nearby. Miles escaped, but was later arrested by Pineville Police Department.

Wildlife agents seized a .17 caliber rifle and a .22 magnum rifle, each with a light attached to the gun. Agents also seized a freshly killed buck deer, a cooler that contained half of another deer and a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS). Restitution in the amount of $1,049.08 is also owed to LDWF for the illegally taken deer.

Youngblood and Miles were each booked for possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II CDS, illegally carrying of weapons with drugs and obstruction of justice. They were also booked for two counts of taking deer during illegal hours with artificial light, possession of an illegally taken deer, two counts of hunting from a moving vehicle, failure to maintain sex identification, field possession of deer meat without a tag, failure to abide by deer tagging regulations, two counts of hunting deer with an illegal weapon, two counts of taking deer from a public road, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, flight from an officer and hunting without a resident big game license.

In addition, Miles was booked for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and hunting without a resident license. Youngblood was also booked for discharging a firearm from a public road.

The penalty for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is imprisonment at hard labor for 10 to 15 years without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and a fine between $1,000 and $5,000.

Possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II CDS is punishable by imprisonment at hard labor for two to 30 years and in addition may be fined up to $50,000. The penalty for illegally carrying of weapons with drugs is a fine up to $10,000 and imprisonment at hard labor for five to 10 years without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Obstruction of justice is punishable by a fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, with or without hard labor, or both.

The penalty for taking deer during illegal hours with an artificial light is a fine of $900 to $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court cost and forfeiture of anything seized. Possession of an illegally taken deer is punishable by a fine of $400 to $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court cost and forfeiture of anything seized.

The penalty for hunting from a moving vehicle, failing to maintain sex identification and field possession of deer meat without a tag is a fine of $250 to $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court costs. Hunting deer with an illegal weapon, taking deer from a public road, failure to abide deer tagging regulations are each punishable by a fine of $100 to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs.

The penalty for illegal possession of drug paraphernalia is a fine up to $500, or jail time up to six months or both. Flight from an officer is punishable by a fine between $150 and $500, or jail time up to six months or both. The penalty for discharging a firearm from a public road is a fine up to $50, or jail time up to 30 days or both. Hunting without a resident license and a resident big game license are each punishable by a fine of $50, or jail time up to 15 days or both.

Sgt. Marcus Constance along with Senior Agents Byron Cammack, Kevin Hill and Chad Watts participated in the case. Grant Parish Sheriff's Office, Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office and Pollock Police Department assisted agents in the case.

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