An Oakdale couple has been cited for allegedly possessing pythons over 12 feet long without a permit and illegally selling animals on the Internet by The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division, authorities reported.

The Allen Parish Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant Friday at the residence of David Beauchemin, 43, and Tawni Beauchemin, 23, both of Oakdale, officials said. The Sheriff's Office obtained the warrant based on a public complaint about Internet sales of animals.

The Beauchemins' residence had been portrayed as a safe haven animal shelter, officials said. The public complaint came after somebody gave the Beauchemin's a dog for safe haven only to find it listed on the Internet a few days later for sale.

The Sheriff's Office contacted state wildlife officials about pythons found in the residence that were longer than 12 feet, which require a permit to possess, according to a Wildlife and Fisheries press release.

The Beauchemins were cited with fraud for the Internet activity and 22 counts of illegally possessing pythons over 12 feet in length without the required permit, authorities said, and David Beauchemin was also charged with obstruction of justice. The Sheriff's Office said additional charges are pending.

Wildlife agents seized the pythons and placed them in an animal shelter, officials said.

David Beauchemin remained at the Allen Parish Jail without bond while Tawni Beauchemin was released so she could tend to the remaining pythons shorter than 12 feet in length and the other animals at the residence.
www.thetowntalk.com/article/20100323/NEWS01/3230331/1002

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