45-Year-Old Louisiana Man Arrested for Animal Cruelty and Other Crimes After Posting Videos of the Alleged Crime on Social Media

St. Mary Parish, Louisiana - A 45-year-old Louisiana man has been arrested for animal cruelty, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and illegally capturing non-game animals after the man was caught on video gaffing a nutria, chopping off its tail, and releasing the maimed animal while alive.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) stated on February 9, 2023, that enforcement agents arrested a Patterson, Louisiana man for alleged wildlife offenses in St. Mary Parish on February 7.

Harris DeHart, 45, was arrested for aggravated cruelty to animals, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, illegally taking non-game quadrupeds, and failing to have a personal flotation device on a person under the age of 17 while in a vessel in motion.

A social media video shared by DeHart on February 6 showed him gaffing a nutria, chopping off its tail, and then releasing the animal maimed and still alive. Agents discovered many further clips depicting DeHart engaging in this action and also instructing a juvenile on how to remove the nutria's tail and keep it alive.

In accordance with Louisiana law, nongame furbearing quadrupeds may be taken with a.22 caliber rifle or a shotgun less than 10 gauge and steel or non-toxic shot. The use of spears, pitchforks, bows and arrows, gigs, or other weapons or similar equipment is illegal when hunting or capturing nongame quadrupeds.

On February 7, agents secured an arrest warrant, arrested DeHart, and booked him into the St. Mary Parish Jail. In connection with this case, agents took DeHart's Nutria Control Program card/permit and cell phone.

Aggravated cruelty to animals is punishable by a fine of $5,000 to $25,000 and up to ten years in prison. Contributing to a juvenile's delinquency may result in a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. The illegal capture of non-game quadrupeds carries a fine of $400 to $950 and up to 120 days in prison. A person under the age of 17 who is underway in a vessel without a PFD is subject to a $50 fine.

This case involves Lieutenant Scott Dupre, Sergeant Gerald Sander, and Corporal Jeremy Foret.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.