OCR Text |
Show Charges Filed In Poaching Case PANGUITCH One adult and three minors from the Bryce Valley area are now being charged with illegal taking of six deer in a case which dates back to the fall of 1998. David Hunsaker, 21, of Tropic will appear in Sixth Judicial District Dis-trict Court in May and three male minors, one age 14 and two 17-year-olds will be adjudicated in Juvenile Ju-venile Court. The four will face varied charges ranging from two third degree felonies felo-nies for wanton destruction of protected pro-tected wildlife; several class A misdemeanors mis-demeanors of wanton destruction of protected wildlife and class B misdemeanors mis-demeanors for shooting from a vehicle, ve-hicle, spotlighting at night and attempted wanton destruction of protected wildlife. Division of Wildlife Resources Conservation Officer Mike Roach wrapped up his investigation into the incidents and turned his findings over to Garfield County Attorney Wallace Lee. Asked why the apparent delays in bringing charges, Roach stated, "the state is slow but we're persistent." persis-tent." Roach stated that the DWR recommends rec-ommends the charges then delivers them to the County Attorney to determine if the proper elements are present in each specific charge. He said he believes the case will come to court in May. The poached deer were taken in the Bryce Valley area in early September Sep-tember through December of 1998, apparently with small caliber rifles. Residents with information about the case or other incidents of wildlife wild-life violations may call Roach at 435-676-2600 or the Help Stop Poaching Hotline at 800-662-3337. |