A joint investigation involving the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division and the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office has resulted in an arrest of a Morgan City man this morning, Aug. 2, for his alleged role in vandalizing LDWF equipment on the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
Aaron LeCompte, 18, turned himself into St. Mary Parish Office deputies and admitted to vandalizing two pieces of LDWF equipment and was subsequently booked into the St. Mary Parish Criminal Facility.
The investigation began when an LDWF bulldozer and utility vehicle (UTV) were first noticed missing on July 24 on the Big Island portion of the Atchafalaya Delta WMA. LDWF staff found the missing equipment later that evening on Big Island. The bulldozer was buried in mud and water up to the floorboard. The UTV was found stuck in a ditch.
The total damage done to the equipment and the costs associated with retrieving both pieces of equipment are unknown at this time.
LeCompte is charged with two counts of unlawful use of a vehicle and simple criminal damage to property. Unlawful use of a vehicle brings up to a $5,000 fine and 10 years in jail for each offense. Simple criminal damage to property carries up to a $1,000 fine and two years in jail if the damage to the property is between $500 and $50,000.