The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting American Big Game Hunting Update-Family mulls guilty pleas in Wyoming illegal hunting operationGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Update-Family mulls guilty pleas in Wyoming illegal hunting operation | Login/Join |
| one of us |
CASPER, Wyo. — Several members of a ranching family near Ten Sleep may soon plead guilty to charges that they allowed out-of-state hunters to tag wildlife with their Wyoming landowner hunting permits, according to the prosecuting attorney and court records. Richard “R.C.” Carter, owner of Big Horn Adventure Outfitters, allegedly took more than a dozen hunters out on his family’s property from 2003 to 2009 to kill elk, deer and antelope, according to a federal indictment issued last July. Richard Carter Sr. and Mark Carter — R.C.’s father and younger brother, respectively — allegedly used their own tags on the animals shot and falsely claimed in affidavits that they killed them. R.C. and Mark Carter then helped to transport the animals back to the hunters’ homes in other states in violation of federal law, the indictment alleged. Two hunters who hired R.C. Carter as a guide, Steve Farah and Matt Robinson, were also indicted for allegedly shooting wildlife without a license and illegally transporting the animals back to their home state of Oregon. Robinson was accompanied by his father, James, who was previously indicted. R.C. Carter charged between $3,000 and $7,500 per hunter and/or per hunt for his services, not including tips, according to the indictment. However, the indictment states that Carter occasionally bartered or exchanged guided hunts for advertising, client referrals and guided fishing trips. The Carters procured so many landowner tags, the indictment states, because in 2004 they subdivided their property into eight 160-acre parcels, so that they and members of their family could receive a landowner elk and antelope license for each parcel. At the request of prosecutors, the trial has been moved from Jackson to Casper on March 27. All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty. However, on Friday, the senior Carter and Farah filed paperwork to change their plea on at least one of the charges against them. Their change of plea hearing will be held Wednesday in Cheyenne. In addition, Robinson told the court it appeared that he would be the only one of the defendants going to trial, according to the judicial order by Judge Nancy Freudenthal granting the request to move the trial to Casper. Darrell Fun, the federal prosecutor in the case, also said Friday that currently appeared to be the case, though he added that could change by March 27. R.C. Carter didn’t return a phone call seeking comment Friday afternoon. If convicted, R.C. and Mark Carter each could face up to 55 years in prison as well as fines of up to $2.75 million. Richard Carter Sr. could receive up to five years in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine. Farah could receive up to 15 years in prison, as well as a $750,000 fine, if convicted. Matt Robinson could face up to 10 years’ prison time and a $500,000 fine. | ||
|
| One of Us |
Sounds like some decent hunting property near Ten Sleep Wyoming will be for sell shortly. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I hunt out there and many of the locals that knew what was going on are glad they finally got nailed good. A friend of mine even caught a couple of them rustling his cattle off some BLM land he was paying the Feds to graze on. Another guy I know out there had a smile a mile wide when they got nailed because he said the Father had raised the whole family up as violators of anything they could get away with! | |||
|
One of Us |
Are these idiots originally from Wyoming? | |||
|
| One of Us |
I believe the property has been in that family name for several generations. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Now those are some pretty hefty (potential) penalties. I'd try to cut a deal, too if I was in their shoes. | |||
|
| one of us |
Admitted to a dozen hunters, at $7500, and they are only punished with $75,000.  Plea agreements reached in Wyoming illegal hunting case . CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Four defendants in an illegal wildlife hunting case entered guilty pleas Wednesday under plea agreements that will likely result in them avoiding jail time. Three members of the Carter family pleaded guilty in federal court to reduced felony charges that they allowed out-of-state hunters to tag wildlife with their Wyoming landowner hunting permits on their ranch in the Big Horn Mountains near Ten Sleep. One of the hunters, Steven Farah, also pleaded guilty Wednesday to reduced felony charges of shooting elk without a Wyoming hunting license and illegally transporting the antlers and mounts back to his home in West Linn, Ore. Under the Carters' plea agreements, which must still be approved by U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal, they will receive varying penalties, including three years' court supervision and a donation of at least $75,000 to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Farah would also receive three years' court supervision and would have to return the elk trophies he collected from the hunts. A second Oregon hunter, Matt Robinson, continues to plead not guilty to similar charges, according to his attorney, Terry Mackey. Robinson is scheduled to go to trial in federal court Tuesday in Casper. Richard "R.C." Carter, owner of Big Horn Adventure Outfitters, admitted in court Wednesday that he took more than a dozen hunters out on his family's property from 2003 to 2009 to kill elk, deer and antelope. Richard Carter Sr. and Mark Carter -- R.C.'s father and younger brother respectively -- testified that they used their own tags on the animals shot, then falsely claimed in affidavits that they killed them. R.C. and Mark Carter admitted that they then helped to transport the animals back to the hunters' homes in Oregon in violation of federal law. The Carters procured many landowner tags, according to the federal indictment against them, because in 2004 they subdivided their property into eight 160-acre parcels. The moved allowed them and members of their family to receive a landowner elk and antelope license for each parcel. R.C. Carter said the scheme started in 2003 after four Oregon hunters approached him offering $7,500 each to go hunting for mature bull elk on his land. "I'd rather have the $7,500 on my tag than another trophy-class elk," R.C. Carter testified in court. "And these guys, they were looking for another trophy to put on their wall." They continued hunting on the Carters' land for several more years, R.C. Carter said, usually bagging two elk per hunt. The Oregon hunters requested tags each year, he said, but since the Carters' land was in a limited quota area, they often relied on the Carters to tag their elk for them. Farah testified that during his first hunt on the Carters' land in 2007, he suspected something wasn't right after the Carters refused for months to let him take his elk back to Oregon. Despite his misgivings, though, Farah said he returned the next year and took another elk. "I apologize to the court for being stupid, for lack of other words," Farah said. Though the terms of the plea agreements were sketched out in court Wednesday, the District Court clerk wouldn't release the exact terms of the agreements. Sentencing hearings for the four are scheduled for June 4. If convicted on all of the initial charges, R.C. and Mark Carter could have each faced up to 55 years in prison as well as fines of up to $2.75 million. Richard Carter Sr. could have received up to five years in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine. Farah could have received up to 15 years in prison, as well as a $750,000 fine. Matt Robinson could face up to 10 years' prison time and a $500,000 fine, if convicted. | |||
|
One of Us |
The state or feds should seize the land, and all the assets held by these people and all their direct family members, incarcerate all their broke asses, then make all their assets available to the citizenry who it should truly belong to. | |||
|
one of us |
I understand the anger but isn't that a bit like Pol Pot? "Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Did 505 really say that? If he did, I think maybe I like the guy after all, LOL!!! | |||
|
| one of us |
I like the part of Farah, probation and just return the heads. No big deal! That makes poaching sound pretty enticeing! | |||
|
| one of us |
I just could not feel Proud, about killing a game animal illegally... When I read about arrests that Game Wardens have made I just do not understand how a Sportsman, could do such things... And I understand how when a Game Warden comes into a Camp I am in, he might be somewhat suspicious/definsive, baised on the things I have read, but as I never break game laws, I have had to set a few of them straight, politely of course, as I respect the tough job they have. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
|
| One of Us |
kudu56---The stuff in this article ($75,000 to G&F, etc.)is strictly what we know they have to pay in restitution. I'm hoping the Judge will really sock it to them with major fines and court costs at final sentencing. We shall see! Here is the key sentence in that whole article: Under the Carters' plea agreements, which must still be approved by U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal, they will receive varying penalties, including three years' court supervision and a donation of at least $75,000 to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I have to admit, the initial ruling buy the federal courts is pretty weak. Poach a bunch of animals, and you can make a bunch of money. But if you get caught, you may have to give a portion of it back  | |||
|
| one of us |
Whats interesting, these folks will probably get away with what they did, minus some legal fees and a donation, and a little probation. Now, a young kid, Colton Lapp, was just busted a third time for poaching yet more trophy deer. He shot four this time. All in less than two years. And he will probably see jail time, as he should. But where is the justice? It's all about who has the most money, not the crime. | |||
|
| One of Us |
kudu56---I missed this latest deal on the Lapp kid shooting two more illegal deer. Can you fill me in please? If he has now been caught three time and killed four trophy deer in two years he needs to go to jail and I mean not just for a few months, but years! That is insane! | |||
|
| one of us |
My neighbor told me tonight, that lapp was busted in Hot Springs county for shooting four deer this time. I guess there was something in the Thermopolis paper about it,. Lapp stated, he was mad over getting caught for the second deer, so he went out and shot four. Supposedly! Same Game Warden caught him. | |||
|
| One of Us |
In the last post Doodoo56 got everyone foaming at the mouth over the Lapp kid, both poaching incidences had occured before he was busted the 1st time. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Maybe we can get them on the RICO Act and confiscate the property. Sounds like it would be a great donation to the RMEF. | |||
|
| One of Us |
A 19-year-old Worland man is the first in the state to be charged under a new felony poaching law. Colton Lapp allegedly killed four buck deer and shot at another near Thermopolis after being convicted twice of poaching, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Hot Springs County prosecutors charged him with five counts of felony poaching under a state law that went into effect in July. The law allows Game and Fish and prosecutors to charge people with a felony if they have been convicted of poaching three times within a 10-year period. A first-time offender can only be charged with a misdemeanor, which carries up to one year in jail, no more than $10,000 in fines, loss of hunting and fishing privileges for five years and forfeiture of anything used during the crime. For each felony count, Lapp faces up to two years in prison, no less than $5,000 or more than $10,000 in fines, as well as the other penalties. He could also lose his right to vote, carry firearms and run for public office. He is also facing several misdemeanor charges. If convicted on all charges, Lapp could face more than 12 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. “We’ve had these sorts of chronic poachers over the years and there weren’t ways to deal with them,” said Scott Werbelow, the game warden supervisor in the Cody region who has dealt with parts of the Lapp case. Wyoming’s chief game warden, Brian Nesvik, said this case is exactly why the Wyoming Game Warden’s Association asked for this law. “This individual has repeatedly committed some of the most egregious wildlife violations,” Nesvik said. In November 2010, Lapp shot and killed a large buck south of Worland, Werbelow said. Many local people knew Lapp had photographed the trophy buck. After killing the buck, Lapp entered the head and rack into a big buck contest, Werbelow said. When officials served a search warrant in the first poaching, they found a second deer carcass. An investigation turned up two other people, and Lapp was charged as an accessory to that crime. He was found guilty on his first poaching charge in April and as an accessory on the other in December. On Dec. 29, Hot Springs County game warden Matt Lentsch began investigating a poaching near Thermopolis. The next day, Worland police officers told him they saw Lapp’s truck with a gun in the window and fresh animal blood and deer hair in the back, according to an arrest document attached to Lapp’s charges. Officials searched Lapp’s truck and found more guns, a violation of his probation agreement, the document stated. After officials collected more evidence, Lapp told them that he shot four deer and shot at but missed another. Lapp cut heads off three of the deer and dumped the bodies, leaving the fourth. He told officials that he “kills deer as a release of built up anger and frustration,” according to the charging document. Lapp is free on a $10,000 bond in Hot Springs County while awaiting his next court appearance. He is also free on a $10,000 bond from Big Horn County and a $5,000 bond in Park County for charges associated with violating conditions of his probation for the previous crimes. Nick Carter, a Gillette attorney representing Lapp, declined to comment before the preliminary hearing. Lapp’s sentencing would be up to a judge, but Nesvik thinks the possibility of prison and becoming a felon could deter future poachers. Read more: http://trib.com/news/state-and...8.html#ixzz1qbfaJI1w The danger of civilization, of course, is that you will piss away your life on nonsense | |||
|
| One of Us |
Could some of those who have replied to the above story, post specifically what there issues are with those involved? I am genuine in my interest as I see 3-4 seperate contentious issues here. | |||
|
| one of us |
What are you talking about. I don't see hardly any replies as to anyone foaming at the mouth. The kid was busted three times in less than two years, 6 deer total,. My point was, he can't afford 6 figure lawyers, he will get jail time, and the Carters will probably get off. | |||
|
| one of us |
Incase 505 didn't read it the first time. A 19-year-old Worland man is the first in the state to be charged under a new felony poaching law. Colton Lapp allegedly killed four buck deer and shot at another near Thermopolis after being convicted twice of poaching, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Hot Springs County prosecutors charged him with five counts of felony poaching under a state law that went into effect in July. The law allows Game and Fish and prosecutors to charge people with a felony if they have been convicted of poaching three times within a 10-year period. A first-time offender can only be charged with a misdemeanor, which carries up to one year in jail, no more than $10,000 in fines, loss of hunting and fishing privileges for five years and forfeiture of anything used during the crime. For each felony count, Lapp faces up to two years in prison, no less than $5,000 or more than $10,000 in fines, as well as the other penalties. He could also lose his right to vote, carry firearms and run for public office. He is also facing several misdemeanor charges. If convicted on all charges, Lapp could face more than 12 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. “We’ve had these sorts of chronic poachers over the years and there weren’t ways to deal with them,” said Scott Werbelow, the game warden supervisor in the Cody region who has dealt with parts of the Lapp case. Wyoming’s chief game warden, Brian Nesvik, said this case is exactly why the Wyoming Game Warden’s Association asked for this law. “This individual has repeatedly committed some of the most egregious wildlife violations,” Nesvik said. In November 2010, Lapp shot and killed a large buck south of Worland, Werbelow said. Many local people knew Lapp had photographed the trophy buck. After killing the buck, Lapp entered the head and rack into a big buck contest, Werbelow said. When officials served a search warrant in the first poaching, they found a second deer carcass. An investigation turned up two other people, and Lapp was charged as an accessory to that crime. He was found guilty on his first poaching charge in April and as an accessory on the other in December. On Dec. 29, Hot Springs County game warden Matt Lentsch began investigating a poaching near Thermopolis. The next day, Worland police officers told him they saw Lapp’s truck with a gun in the window and fresh animal blood and deer hair in the back, according to an arrest document attached to Lapp’s charges. Officials searched Lapp’s truck and found more guns, a violation of his probation agreement, the document stated. After officials collected more evidence, Lapp told them that he shot four deer and shot at but missed another. Lapp cut heads off three of the deer and dumped the bodies, leaving the fourth. He told officials that he “kills deer as a release of built up anger and frustration,” according to the charging document. Lapp is free on a $10,000 bond in Hot Springs County while awaiting his next court appearance. He is also free on a $10,000 bond from Big Horn County and a $5,000 bond in Park County for charges associated with violating conditions of his probation for the previous crimes. Nick Carter, a Gillette attorney representing Lapp, declined to comment before the preliminary hearing. Lapp’s sentencing would be up to a judge, but Nesvik thinks the possibility of prison and becoming a felon could deter future poachers. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Ya, I read it, I was actually asking about the case you posted on this thread, care to answer the question | |||
|
| one of us |
I didn't reply to the article. I posted it to bring attention to the fact people are stealing opportunities for law abiding citizens. Now as for my issues with what they did. They sold land owner tags, which is illegal in Wyoming, those tags are meant for family members,they circumvented the system for their own benefit. I don't have a big problem with what they did, I think a rancher or farmer who literally raises game, should be able to sell some tags, but there should be a limit to it. All you need in Wyoming to get landowner tags is 160 acres, providing game resides on that land for x amount of days. But there should be a limit as to how many times you can split your ranch or farm, and how may tags a family can have. Bottom line, it was illegal. If you don't like the laws, try and change it by legislation, don't just take the law into your own hands. | |||
|
| one of us |
I am still looking for the "foaming mouth" replies! | |||
|
| One of Us |
| |||
|
| one of us |
yes.
Now as for the hefty price, they sold 12 hunts at an average of $5250 per hunt. They possibly made $63,000 on those hunts, and they want to give $75,000. Not to of a bad punishment. | |||
|
| One of Us |
*** For every extra tag they got for dividing that property up into 160s they "stole" that tag from someone else. It may have been a resident or a nonresident in the leftover draw if the area went undersubscribed by residents. | |||
|
| one of us |
Don't be foaming at the mouth Topgun!  | |||
|
| One of Us |
NO their tags were LEGAL what they did with them was illegal. there is a difference. SSR | |||
|
| One of Us |
You are being PC and correct because the law did allow them to get the extra tags when they put the land into 160 acre parcels. That's why the law needs to be changed because it wasn't intended for someone with a big chunk of land to do what they did. It really did cheat others out of those tags even though they used legal means at the present time to get them. My use of the word "stole" was because it was obvious that the only reason they did that was to get those extra tags to sell them illegally. Being legal and ethical are two different aspects to this particular case. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Off with their heads.They stole the Kings Deer!!!  | |||
|
| One of Us |
Damn straight, LOL!!! | |||
|
| one of us |
A federal jury on Wednesday found an Oregon hunter guilty of conspiracy and trafficking in wildlife between 2005 and 2008 in violation of the Lacey Act of 1900, which prohibits the interstate transportation of animals taken in violation of state laws. Matthew S. Robinson, the fifth and final defendant in the illegal hunting case, hung his head and looked stunned when the court clerk announced the two guilty verdicts. The eight-man, four-woman jury deliberated about eight hours over two days before reaching its verdicts. Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal set his sentencing for 8:30 a.m. June 13 in her court in Cheyenne. Robinson could face penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment, up to $500,000 in fines and up to three years of supervised release, according to the government’s indictment. His attorney, Robert W. Wheeler of Portland, Ore., said he was disappointed by the verdict, but declined to say whether he and Robinson’s other attorney, Terry Mackey of Cheyenne, would appeal. Four others Robinson was the fifth and last defendant in the illegal wildlife case in which four other defendants, including three from a Ten Sleep family, entered plea agreements two weeks ago. These defendants were Steven Farah of West Linn, Ore.; and Big Horn Adventure Outfitters owner Richard “R.C.” Carter; his father, Richard Carter Sr.; and his younger brother, Mark Carter. In a separate case, Robinson’s father, James Robinson, pleaded guilty last year to one count of trafficking in illegal wildlife and was sentenced to three years’ probation, ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution and a $20,000 fine. The Carters pleaded guilty to taking more than a dozen paying hunters onto their land from 2003 to 2009, allowing them to kill elk, deer and antelope; using their own landowner tags on the animals shot; falsely claiming in affidavits they killed them; and then helping the hunters to transport the animals to the hunters’ homes in Oregon, according to court records. Before the 12-member jury began deliberating Tuesday afternoon, it heard the closing arguments from prosecutor Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Fun and defense attorney Weaver. Their arguments focused on whether Robinson knew what he and the other defendants were doing was illegal. Fun showed copies of license applications, photos of Robinson and other defendants posing with their trophy kills, processing receipts, and emails. The government also introduced as evidence two trophy bull elk mounts and placed them on either side of the courtroom in the front pews. Robinson grew up in a family that hunted and encouraged his participation in the sport, Fun said. “He’s not a first-time hunter; he’s not a kid.” He also had access to hunting information and regulations through the Internet, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and the Pony Express store in Ten Sleep that sold licenses, Fun said. But Weaver responded that Robinson cooperated with authorities and offered files and computer records for their investigation, he said. The Game and Fish Department cited Robinson for an illegal kill in 2005, and the defendant was upset that he didn’t know he had broken the law, Weaver said. Because of his family background, he — perhaps naively — relied on his father’s statements that hunting on a landowner’s tag was legal and never questioned the relationship between his father and lead defendant R.C. Carter, Weaver said. “James Robinson and R.C. Carter had a good thing going,” he said. “They wouldn’t sit around a campfire and say, ‘Son, this is illegal and don’t tell anyone.’” | |||
|
| One of Us |
I think that law needs revised a bit. Add a minimum of one year in the state penitentiary for each charge, and not allow plea bargaining. | |||
|
| one of us |
CODY, Wyo. — Several landowners from Wyoming and hunters from Oregon and at least two other states have pleaded guilty to illegal trafficking of wildlife and other felony charges. Wyoming Game and Fish said the 14 hunters were convicted of unlawfully hunting trophy elk and other game on the Carter Ranch near Tensleep from 2003 to 2009. Ranch owners Richard Carter Sr., RC Carter and Mark Carter pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to traffic wildlife and falsifying wildlife records. Richard Carter, 61, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. RC Carter, 34, and Mark Carter, 31, face a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment and a $750,000 fine. “This is a significant case for the wildlife resource, our department, and for the sportsmen of Wyoming,” said Mike Ehlebracht, investigative unit supervisor for Game and Fish. “We take these kinds of violations very seriously, and we encourage the public to report violations through our Stop Poaching hotline.” Also convicted in the case was Mathew Robinson, 29, of Oregon, on two felony charges of trafficking in illegal wildlife and for aiding and abetting. Robinson was accused of conspiring to hunt elk in Wyoming between 2005 and 2008, and for assisting others in hunting elk and for illegally killing a bull elk in 2008 without a proper license. Robinson faces up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000. His sentencing is set for June in Cheyenne District Court. Robinson’s father, James Robinson, 61, also of Oregon, pleaded guilty in March for trafficking in illegal wildlife. He was accused of killing a 7x8 bull elk without a proper license in 2005 and was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution and a fine of $20,000 and to complete community service. Also convicted in the sweeping case was Steve Farah, 48, of Oregon, for conspiring to traffic in illegal wildlife. Farah was accused of unlawfully killing a 6x6 bull elk in 2007 and another in 2008. He is scheduled to be sentenced in June and faces up to 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Four other Oregon hunters were also charged with federal misdemeanors involving the unlawful taking and transportation of wildlife. Jon R. Gleason, 68, of Washington state, pleaded guilty to killing a 6x6 bull elk in 2006 and was ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution and a $1,000 fine and is prohibited from hunting for two years. Joseph Karas, 60, of Oregon, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing a 6x6 elk in 2006. He was ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution and to perform community service and is prohibited from hunting for two years. John Woodmark, 63, of Oregon, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing a 6x7 bull elk in 2007 and was ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution and perform community service and is prohibited from hunting for two years. James Dovenberg, 68, of West Linn, Ore., pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting another in the killing of a 6x6 bull elk in 2006 without a proper license. He was ordered to pay a fine of $12,000 and is prohibited from hunting for two years. Several other hunters were prosecuted in Washakie County Circuit Court in relation to the case, Game and Fish officials said. Gerald Jay Robinson, 72, of Oregon, pleaded guilty to taking an antlerless elk in 2004 without a license. He was ordered to pay $3,000 restitution and a $750 fine. William Hayward Batts, 56, of Hyattville, pleaded no contest to unlawfully transferring a hunting license and making a false statement on a Wyoming interstate game tag. He was fined $370 for each of the two counts and had his Wyoming hunting privileges suspended for 3 years. Robert Till, 53, of Tennessee, pleaded guilty to taking an antelope in 2003 without a license and was ordered to pay $3,000 restitution and a fine of $750. He also had his Wyoming hunting privileges suspended for three years. William Patrick Mercer, 65, Florida, also pleaded guilty to taking an antelope in 2003 without a license and was ordered to pay $3,000 restitution and a fine of $5,000. The case was jointly investigated by the Wyoming Game and Fish, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oregon State Patrol. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Washakie County Attorney’s Office. | |||
|
| one of us |
CHEYENNE--Professional snowboarder Mark Carter was sentenced to three years probation Monday for his role in his family’s illegal hunting operation on their ranch near Ten Sleep. Oregon hunter Steven Farah was also sentenced to 30 days home confinement by U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal for hiring members of the Carter family to shoot elk and deer on their land and illegally tag the animals with the Carters’ Wyoming landowner hunting permits. Mark Carter’s father and brother have pled guilty to more serious charges stemming from the case. Richard "R.C." Carter Jr. will be sentenced this afternoon. Richard Carter Sr. has a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 13. R.C. Carter, the owner of Big Horn Adventure Outfitters, previously admitted in court that he took more than a dozen hunters out on his family’s property from 2003 to 2009 to kill elk, deer and antelope. Richard Carter Sr. and Mark Carter previously testified they used their own tags on the animals shot, then falsely claimed in affidavits they killed them. R.C. and Mark Carter admitted they then helped to transport the animals back to the hunters’ homes in Oregon in violation of federal law. The Carters procured many landowner tags, according to the federal indictment against them, because in 2004 they subdivided their property into eight 160-acre parcels. The move allowed them and members of their family to receive landowner elk and antelope licenses for each parcel. Prosecutors urged Freudenthal to go easy on Mark Carter, whom they said played only a minor role in the hunting operation – doing routine chores and cooking. They also noted that Carter voluntarily paid the Wyoming Department of Game and Fish $75,000 worth of restitution. Carter, a backcountry snowboarder, placed second at the inaugural Natural Selection Invitational in 2008 , won a North Face Masters Series stop in 2010, and been featured in numerous films about the sport. Mark Carter apologized for his actions Monday, telling Freudenthal that he's lost snowboarding contracts because of the publicity from the incident. "It's ruined my life up to this point," he said. Mark Carter's attorney, John Whitaker, told Freudenthal that part of the reason the Carters continued with the illegal hunting operation was because of the good relationship their family had with the local game warden. "They felt they would not be held to the highest standards," Whitaker said. Federal prosecutor Darrell Fun disagreed with Whitaker, saying local officials had suspected the Carter family of wrongdoing for years but didn't have the evidence or witnesses needed to arrest them. | |||
|
| one of us |
5 months for illegal outfitting, not to bad, and consider what they got away with before they got caught. CHEYENNE—Ten Sleep outfitter Richard “R.C.” Carter was sentenced to five months in prison Monday for leading illegal hunts for several out-of-state hunters on his family’s ranch. Professional snowboarder Mark Carter, R.C.’s brother, received three years probation for his role in the operation, while Oregon hunter Steven Farah was sentenced to 30 days home confinement by U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal. R.C. Carter, the owner of Big Horn Adventure Outfitters, previously admitted in court that he took more than a dozen hunters, including Farah, out on his family’s property from 2003 to 2009 to kill elk, deer and antelope. Mark Carter and his father, Richard Carter Sr., previously testified that they used their own tags on the animals shot, then falsely claimed in affidavits that they killed them. R.C. and Mark Carter said that they then helped to transport the animals back to the hunters’ homes in Oregon in violation of federal law. The Carters procured many landowner tags, according to the federal indictment against them, because in 2004 they subdivided their property into eight 160-acre parcels. The move allowed them and members of their family to receive a landowner elk and antelope license for each parcel. R.C. Carter charged each hunter an average of about $7,500 per hunt, according to federal prosecutor Darrell Fun. Richard Carter Sr., as well as Matt Robinson, another Oregon resident who participated in the hunts, will be sentenced June 13. R.C. Carter received permission from Freudenthal not to report to prison until October so he can put his ranch’s affairs in order. On top of their sentences, both R.C. and Mark Carter each voluntarily paid $75,000 in restitution to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. After Freudenthal announced the sentence, R.C. Carter said that since high school he had been led to believe that swapping out hunting tags wasn’t that big of a deal. “I think the best use for me is to spread the word that these crimes are taken seriously,” he said. Prosecutors urged Freudenthal to go easy on Mark Carter, saying he played only a minor role in the operation by doing routine chores and cooking. Carter, a backcountry snowboarder, placed second at the inaugural Natural Selection Invitational in 2008, won a North Face Masters Series stop in 2010, and has been featured in numerous films about the sport. Mark Carter apologized for his actions Monday, telling Freudenthal that he’s lost snowboarding contracts because of the publicity stemming from the incident. “It’s ruined my life up to this point,” he said. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Well I can't gripe, as so far two of the main three involved have paid $150,000 and one also got prison time, even though it won't be real long considering he'll probably do less for being a good boy while he's there! Hope he doesn't drop the shower soap while he's in there, LOL! Anyway, now if the old man ring leader gets it socked to him next week like I hope he does, I would say they are definitely in the hole with their money making scheme and are also now known across the area and country as convicted criminals/scoundrels with the internet publicity it generated!!! Thanks for the continued updates and now if you post one more real good one next week I'll be a happy camper when I head out there in September. | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata | Page 1 2 |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting American Big Game Hunting Update-Family mulls guilty pleas in Wyoming illegal hunting operation
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia