Multiagency Team Arrests Sex Offender Living Deep in Louisiana Swamp

Baton Rouge, LA - On Feb. 8, the U.S. Probation and Parole Office in the Middle District of Louisiana requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force (MLFTF) in locating and arresting a man wanted on active warrants, including supervised release violations.

Brian Schaller was initially indicted in 2015 for distribution of child pornography. He also had an active warrant from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office for violating the terms of his sex offender registry and from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office for felony sexual battery and felony oral sexual battery.

On March 12 the MLFTF received an anonymous tip that Schaller was possibly living deep in the Louisiana swamp, specifically in the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area in the Atchafalaya Basin located just east of Lafayette.

On March 13, the MLFTF reached out to the Lafayette Office of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to request members of their Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT), uniformed officers, and watercraft elements to assist in Schaller's apprehension. Additionally, an Angola State Prison Chase/Canine Team was requested to help track Schaller in the event he eluded capture.

The MLFTF also requested the assistance of the USMS Western District of Louisiana Violent Offender Task Force (W/LA VOTF), as well as additional support from the Department of Homeland Security.

On the morning of March 14, the multiagency team met and conducted an operational brief, then deployed assets into the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area in the Atchafalaya Basin wilderness. Schaller's encampment was located after a mile infiltration on foot by members of the team. Upon locating the encampment, members of the team surrounded the structure and gave verbal commands for Schaller to come out and surrender. Schaller complied with the verbal commands and was taken into custody without incident.

The structure where Schaller had been living was constructed from tree limbs, tarps, and parachute cord (see photos below). Schaller had several small game traps along the trails around his encampment, made from paracord and small limbs he had gathered. Schaller had also deployed an early warning system made from string and aluminum cans. Schaller told investigators he had been living off the land since approximately January and that he had been living off small game and rodents.

The MLFTF would like to extend a special thanks to all the agencies involved in Schaller's apprehension, particularly the Lafayette Office of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the USMS W/LA VOTF.

The MLFTF consists of personnel from the U.S. Marshals, Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, Louisiana Probation and Parole, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office.

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