Agents Arrest Baton Rouge Man for Forging Boat Registration

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents arrested a Baton Rouge man for alleged forgery, injuring public records, and theft violations in East Baton Rouge Parish on June 1.
Agents arrested Douglas Schooling, 57, for forgery, injuring public records and theft.
The LDWF Licensing and Registration Office received a boat registration application packet for a vessel on March 16, 2023, containing a boat registration certificate listing Schooling as the registered owner and a bill of sale of the boat/motor with an incorrect registration number.
After further investigation of the boat registration application packet, agents determined that Schooling forged his name on the registration. Schooling put the boat up for sale and received $4,000 for the vessel, even though the vessel was registered to someone else. Agents found that Schooling advertised the vessel for sale with the forged registration showing him as the owner to entice a buyer.
Agents obtained an arrest warrant for Schooling and he turned himself in to the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail on June 1.
Forgery brings up to a $5,000 fine and 10 years in jail. Theft carries up to a $3,000 fine and five years in jail. Injuring public records brings up to a $5,000 fine and up to five years in jail.