Louisiana - A Louisiana man has been sentenced to 20 years for multiple wildlife and criminal violations, following a guilty plea in the Second Judicial District Court in Claiborne Parish on January 14. Samuel Laprarie, 47, of Athens, will serve seven years in jail, followed by 13 years of probation.

Laprarie's legal troubles stem from a series of incidents involving wildlife regulations and a driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge. He pleaded guilty to being a second-time DWI offender, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and violating hunting regulations by possessing turkeys during a closed season and exceeding the legal limit of turkeys allowed.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division initiated the case against Laprarie after he was arrested on February 1, 2024. LDWF agents observed him operating a vessel on Lake Claiborne while impaired. Upon further investigation, agents discovered that Laprarie was driving a watercraft despite having his license suspended and found him in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was subsequently booked into the Claiborne Parish Jail.

While Laprarie was in custody, LDWF agents executed search warrants on his seized cellular phone. They uncovered evidence indicating that he had illegally harvested eight turkeys during the 2023 hunting season, which only allowed licensed hunters to take two gobblers. Additionally, one of the turkeys was taken outside the legal hunting season.

Laprarie's situation was further complicated by the discovery of a 12-gauge shotgun in his possession while hunting, despite his status as a convicted felon, which prohibits him from owning firearms.

On March 22, 2024, additional charges were filed against Laprarie, including possession of illegally taken turkeys and exceeding the turkey limit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Daniel Bays Jr. on behalf of the Danny Newell District Attorney's Office. The investigation was led by Lt. Ryan Brasher and Sgt. Emily Sexton of the LDWF.