Louisiana – A Louisiana man pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Second Judicial District Court in Claiborne Parish on January 14 for multiple wildlife and criminal violations.
Judge Walter May sentenced 47-year-old Samuel Laprarie of Athens to 20 years, with seven years in 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 exceeding the turkey harvest limit.
The case stemmed from Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division investigations in 2024. Agents arrested Laprarie on February 1 for operating a vessel while impaired, operating a watercraft during a license suspension, and possession of drug paraphernalia after observing him on Lake Claiborne.
While Laprarie was in jail, a search of his phone revealed evidence that he illegally harvested eight turkeys in 2023, including one outside the hunting season. Louisiana law allows licensed hunters to harvest only two gobblers per season. Agents also discovered that Laprarie possessed a 12-gauge shotgun while hunting, despite being a convicted felon.
On March 22, LDWF agents charged him with possession of illegally taken turkeys, exceeding the turkey limit, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Assistant District Attorney Daniel Bays Jr. prosecuted the case on behalf of District Attorney Danny Newell’s office.