Louisiana Restaurant in Trouble for Roadkill in the Freezer
The owner of the Garden Hen in Winnsboro, Louisiana is facing a stiff fine and possible jail time after authorities found road kill in the restaurant's cooler. 61 year old Somchanh Chanthapanya was cited for possession of a spotted fawn earlier this week by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents. That charge could land the 61 year old restaurant owner in jail for up to 30 days and cost him up to $750 in fines.
The illegal deer was found by a Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office (FPSO) Deputy who was performing a security check. According to the press release from the LDWF, the deputy noticed an open door at the restaurant, and upon further investigation found the fawn in an open freezer. He then notified he LDWF who dispatched agents to investigate. Those agents would not find the deer at the restaurant, but rather at Chanthapanya's home. The restaurant owner moved it to his home to butcher it after the initial discovery by the FPSO.
Chanthapanya claims the fawn is roadkill, and that he found it near Hwy 17. He also claimed that he was not aware taking the deer was illegal.