Alabama Man Nailed on a Wyoming Poaching Charge 26 Years Later

They say the perseverance pays off and this recent conviction is proof of that statement to the letter. In a decades-old case coming out of Wyoming, an Alabama man has finally been convicted of a wildlife crime he committed back in October of 1998.

After being on the lam for about 20 years, 53-year-old Kenny Craig of Elkmont, Alabama was arrested after a traffic stop in Crook County, Wyoming in March 2024.  The arrest was made based on a bench warrant that was issued in February 2000 after the accused failed to appear in court stemming from a number of wildlife violations.

The original incident dates back to October 24th, 1998 when Craig illegally killed a 5-by-5 buck mule deer on the Sand Mesa Wildlife Habitat Management Area. According to reports, at the time, he was hunting with a general deer license in Deer Hunt Area 157, which happens to be a limited quota area. In addition to hunting deer with the improper license, he also failed to tag the buck, instead later using his brother’s limited quota license to illegally tag the animal.

The investigation also later revealed that Craig also was accused of illegally purchasing a Wyoming resident general deer and elk license well ahead of the timeline required to be considered a state resident. At the time of the incident, it was reported that Craig had only resided in Wyoming for roughly three months after moving from New Mexico - a far cry from the 12-month requirement for qualifying for a resident hunting license. He also reportedly failed to complete a mandatory hunter education course.

The initial investigation officially kicked off in the fall of 1999 and has since been concluded a mere 25 years later. On June 25, 2024, Craig was finally convicted in Fremont County Circuit Court for those violations he committed during the 1998 hunting season. Under a plea agreement, the judge accepted Craig’s no-contest plea to one count of taking a deer without a license. For that charge he was ordered to pay $410 in fines and court costs, plus $1,000 in restitution for the illegally killed buck. As part of the agreement, it was agreed that three additional charges stemming from the 1998 case were dropped.

Craig also has forfeited his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for three years under the Wildlife Violator Compact, which is applicable in not only Wyoming, but across all of the remaining 49 states as well.

According to the now-retired game wardens who originally investigated the case, four must-appear citations were issued and two additional violations were pending in the case. After Craig failed to appear in court in October of 1999, a bench warrant was issued in February of the following year as Craig fled to Alabama.

“There is no statute of limitations for wildlife crimes in Wyoming,” said Lander Region Wildlife Supervisor Jason Hunter. “Cases like these send a clear message: wildlife crimes will not be ignored, no matter how much time has passed.

“Lawful sportsmen take great care to apply for the correct licenses in the correct areas and follow the existing laws and regulations. It shows respect for the resource, too. Violators must be held accountable when they don't follow the rules. This ensures there are opportunities for all users to enjoy the wildlife resource well into the future.”

Despite all of the original officers, prosecutors and judges being long-since retired, Fremont County Attorney Pat LeBrun and Assistant County Attorney Ember Oakley pursued the charges based on the detailed case reports compiled by officers at the time.

“I'm pleased that Mr. Craig has been held accountable for his wildlife crimes in Wyoming,” Oakley said. “This case demonstrates the exceptional work of our Wyoming wardens and their dedication to thorough investigations. Even 20 years after the crime, we were able to pick the case up and complete the prosecution. Their top-notch work is essential to protecting our state's wildlife.”