Man pleads to illegal hunting, negligent injury

A Chalmette man pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a hunting incident that occurred in Meraux in St. Bernard Parish.

Joshua D. Starr, 28, of Chalmette pleaded guilty to charges of negligent Injury and hunting deer during illegal hours in St. Bernard Parish Court.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents issued Starr those charges after investigating an unintentional shooting while Starr was deer hunting in the wooded area near Bourmouth Park on Jan. 4, 2013.

Starr thought he shot a deer after legal shooting hours.  After approaching what he thought was his downed deer, Starr and a hunting partner realized that he incidentally shot a person.  The shooter mistook the victim for a deer and hit him with his 12 gauge shotgun from 24 yards away hitting the victim in the lower abdomen and legs.

The victim was brought to University Hospital in New Orleans where he underwent surgery to address his injuries.  The victim has made a near full recovery at the last point of contact with LDWF investigators.

Starr was sentenced to pay $1,000 plus court costs for the conviction of the two violations.

Agents involved in the case were Sgts. Tim Fox and Mike Garrity, and Lt. Jason Russo.