‘A demented social club’: Dozens more charges filed in probe of Pacific Northwest wildlife poaching ring

Prosecutors in Oregon have filed more than a hundred charges in an investigation of wildlife poaching that has spanned state lines and allegedly left dozens of animals shot illegally and often left to rot.

The Wasco, Ore., County District Attorney’s office charged eleven people with misdemeanor wildlife crimes in that county Tuesday. Some of those charged in Oregon are also being prosecuted in Washington state for allegedly killing bears, deer, elk or bobcats illegally. Members of the loose network often filmed or photographed their hunts, capturing gruesome scenes, including some in Washington that showed hunting dogs gnawing on dead or wounded bears. In some hunts, the alleged poachers left their prey to waste, collecting little meat or hide, investigators said.

Between the two states, at least 17 people have been implicated in the poaching investigation. At least two men have pleaded guilty to poaching-related crimes......

Cellphones seized from the suspects, which contained photos and videos of hunts as well as text messages, ultimately led Washington officers to more than 20 kill sites in Southwest Washington and several more suspects. Eight people were initially charged last fall in Skamania County with more than 190 counts of wildlife violations, including 33 felonies. Since then, more charges have been filed in other Washington counties. .....

Officials there charged William Jarred Haynes, 24, with 45 counts; Erik Christian Martin, 24, with 42 counts; Joseph Allen Dills, 31, with 12 counts; Aaron Brian Hendricks, 35, with five counts; David R. McLeskey, 59, with four counts; Sierra Dills, 18, with four counts; Eddy Alvin Dills, 58, with two counts; Kimberly Kathrin Crape, 20, with two counts; Wyatt Keith, 17, with two counts; Aubri Nicole McKenna, 36, with one count; and Aaron Colby Hanson, 38, with one count.

Charges included unlawful taking or possession of wildlife (including deer, bear, bobcat, squirrel and cougar); waste of wildlife; hunting with an artificial light; use of dogs or bait to hunt (cougar and bear); criminal conspiracy; aiding or sharing in a wildlife violation; and altering, borrowing or loaning a license, tag or permit.

Gunderson said troopers have evidence they believe proves seven bobcats, four cougars, five bear, 35 deer and one silver gray squirrel were killed by the group in Oregon alone. Most of the animals were left to waste. .......



https://www.seattletimes.com/s...dlife-poaching-ring/



We can only hope that the felony charges in Washington results in real prison time.

hang em high!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by DTala:
hang em high!!!!!

X2!

No excuses for this kind of doings.

George