Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents arrested a St. Mary Parish man for alleged fishing, boating and drug violations on Aug 14.
Agents arrested Mark Derouen, 33 of Stephensville, for operating or driving a vessel while intoxicated (DWI), illegal possession of suspected marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony cultivation of marijuana, not possessing a recreational fishing license, and fail to comply with personal flotation device (PFD) requirements. Agents also cited Melinda Hartley, 49, of Stephensville, for violating crab trap marking requirements.
While patrolling the Lake End Park in St. Mary Parish agents observed a vessel on Lake Palourde being operated by Derouen with Hartley and cooler full of crabs onboard.
Agents made contact with both subjects and found that Hartley did not tag any of the crab traps she used with the required LDWF license number.
After further investigation, agents also found Derouen in possession of a zip loc bag with marijuana and a large plastic grocery bag full of fresh marijuana, multiple smoke pipes and other drug paraphernalia.
After receiving permission to search Derouen’s residence, the Morgan City Police Department and St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotic teams inspected Derouen’s residence where they found marijuana plants.
Derouen was also found to be impaired at the time of the stop. Agents booked Derouen into the St. Mary Parish Jail.
Not tagging crab traps with the required markings carries a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Not abiding by PFD
requirements and not possessing a fishing license each brings up to a $50 fine and 15 days in jail.
A DWI carries a $300 to $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia each brings up to a $500 fine and six months in jail. Cultivation of marijuana carries up to a $50,000 fine and five to 30 years in jail.