A northern Louisiana man pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Second Judicial District Court in Claiborne Parish on Jan. 14 for numerous wildlife and criminal violations.
The Honorable Judge Walter May sentenced Samuel Laprarie, 47, of Athens, to serve 20 years with seven years of jail and 13 years of probation.
Laprarie pleaded guilty to second offense DWI, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of turkeys during a closed season, and possessing over the limit of turkeys.
This sentencing stems from cases made by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division in 2024.
LDWF agents arrested Laprarie on Feb. 1, 2024 for operating or driving a vessel while impaired (DWI), operating a watercraft during license suspension, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Agents observed Laprarie operating a vessel in Lake Claiborne and found that he was impaired and booked him into the Claiborne Parish Jail.
While Laprarie was in jail, agents obtained search warrants for his seized cellular phone and found evidence that he harvested eight turkeys during 2023 with one of the turkeys harvested outside of the 2023 turkey-hunting season. A licensed hunter is allowed two gobblers per season.
Agents also found him in possession of a 12-gauge shotgun while hunting and he was already a convicted felon.
On March 22, 2024, agents then charged Laprarie with possession of illegally taken turkeys, over the limit of turkeys and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Assistant District Attorney Daniel Bays Jr. prosecuted the case for the state on behalf of the Danny Newell District Attorney’s Office.
Agents participating in this case were Lt. Ryan Brasher and Sgt. Emily Sexton.