Billings Gazette
Saco area family sentenced in hunting scheme
CLAIR JOHNSON Of The Gazette Staff | Posted: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 11:30 am


A Saco area ranch family will serve federal probation and pay $45,000 in fines for violating hunting regulations in a scheme that brought out-of-state hunters to their ranch to shoot game illegally.

Senior U.S. District Judge Jack Shanstrom this morning sentenced Leo O. Bergtoll, 74, to three years of probation; his wife, Anna Lou L. Bergtoll, 68, to two years of probation; and their son, Darrel L. Bergtoll, 44, to three years and four months of probation. He also imposed a $15,000 fine on each.

The judge further ordered the Bergtolls to provide hunting for injured veterans through a program called the Wounded Warrior Project and to enroll part of their ranch in the state's Block Management Program without financial reimbursement. The program allows the state to enter into cooperrative agreements with private landowners for public hunting and to reimburse the landowner for impacts.

The Bergtolls pleaded guilty in February to violating the Lacey Act, which regulates the interstate sale, transportation and purchase of wildlife. Leo Bergtoll pleaded guilty to a felony conspiracy count; Anna Lou Bergtoll and Darrel Bergtoll pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count.

Federal prosecutors said the Bergtolls conspired with a Louisiana co-defendant, Anthony Bazile, to bring hunters to their Frenchman Valley Ranch, north of Saco, for big-game hunts using illegally obtained hunting tags. The illegal hunts ran from 1999 until 2003.

I think the judge made some good sentencing decisions. I like the order to open their ranch to the wounded warrior project and block management without compensation. The 45,000 will set a good example to others thinking of pulling this horse shit.