Jail Time and $22,000 in Fines for Oregon Serial Poacher

In a case coming out of Oregon, a Grant County man who was investigated for over 50 wildlife crimes committed between 2023 and 2024 had his day in court earlier this month and was handed a hefty sentence.

The culmination of what turned into a two-year investigation ended up with the unnamed suspect getting handed a 95-day jail sentence and over $22,000 worth of fines and restitution for his poaching spree. 

Things kicked off in the spring of 2023 when Oregon’s State Police Fish and Wildlife Troopers were tipped off about the suspect, whose hunting license was suspended at the time, being in possession of a 6x6 bull elk. As officials investigated this initial crime, the suspect was later convicted for unlawful take/possession of bull elk and was handed a lifetime ban of his hunting privileges in the state of Oregon. 

Done deal right? Wrong.

The suspect seemed to lay low for a few months following his initial conviction but was soon back on state Trooper’s radar during the 2023 fall archery season. Tipped off, once again, officers were on the suspect’s trail, this time for the illegal killing of a 5x6 bull elk and two 3x4 mule deer bucks. It was soon found that the suspect had unlawfully killed the three animals by spotlighting them along a highway within the Northside Hunt Unit in September of 2023.

With a handful of crimes to his credit, officials continued to dig deeper into the serial poacher’s investigation, soon landing a number of search warrants and the eventual arrest of the suspect. During the search and seizure process of the investigation, wildlife officers confiscated antlers from the 5x6 bull and 3x4 mulie along with the suspect’s spotlight, 7mm Weatherby rifle, bow, calls and other items related to his crimes.

As if that wasn’t enough to slow this guy down, once he was released from jail and awaiting trial in 2024, Troopers once again received information about the suspect breaking even more wildlife crimes. This time turning his attention to Oregon’s waterways, the suspect was caught unlawfully fishing for wild steelhead in the John Day River. The two month surveillance operation revealed that the suspect and two others were consistently breaking fishing regulations, including fishing at night, along the river. Following the surveillance operation, Troopers charged the original suspect and his two accomplices with more than 30 different angling-related crimes.

The subject accepted a global plea that resulted in two felony convictions for taking a 5X6 bull elk and a 3x4 mule deer buck, nine misdemeanor wildlife and angling crimes, and a probation violation. In addition to the jail time and fines levied against him, the court sentenced the suspect to 18 months worth of probation and 260 hours of community service. 

“Catching wildlife violators and holding them accountable is why our fish and wildlife troopers put on their uniforms every day,” OSP F&W Sergeant Erich Timko said. “ Our goal is to prevent these thefts of our wildlife resources that rob from our hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts.”