12/27/2006

Burt Rico, 47, of Moreauville pled no contest to hunting deer illegally at night with a .22 caliber rifle on Nov. 14, 2006 and was sentenced to 60 days in the Avoyelles Parish Jail. Judge Mark Jeansonne of the 12th Judicial District Court in Marksville, La. also fined Rico $1,051.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents discovered Rico hunting with the aid of a deer feeder equipped with lights on Dec. 15, 2005. Agents cited him for hunting without a basic and big game hunting license, failure to wear hunter orange and hunting deer with illegal methods and during illegal hours with an artificial light. On the following day, investigating agents learned that Rico was a convicted felon. He was then arrested and booked into the Avoyelles Parish Jail.

District Attorney Charles Riddle III personally handled the case and stated, "We will not tolerate night hunting and the associated crimes with this activity. Hopefully, this punishment will send a message that a hunting license is required and hunting will be allowed only during legal hunting hours along with the requirement of obeying rules that the vast majority of our hunters follow. The few that violate these laws will be dealt with accordingly," Riddle said.

Agents participating in the investigation include Cpt. Peter Oliver, Sgt. Gabe Guidry and Senior Agent Jay Callegari.