No felonies, 28 counts, including 17 poached animals (deer, turkey, heron, rabbit).

http://www.qconline.com/archiv...isplay.php?id=556068



Gauley pleads guilty to 28 charges

Share Posted Online: Aug. 09, 2011, 7:15 pm
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Bob Groene, groene@qconline.com
A March outdoors column reported that James A. Gauley, of Aledo, had been charged by the Mercer County State's Attorney's Office with 28 felony and misdemeanor wildlife and vehicle charges. This came after Illinois Conservation Police and Mercer County sherriff's deputies, led by CPO Laura Petreikis, served a search warrant on Gauley's rural home, followed by a several-year investigation by CPO Petreikis.

Last week the 24-year-old Gauley pled guilty to 28 misdemeanor charges in an agreement that avoided felony charges. In addition to a fine of $18,033, Gauley will be on probation for four years, cannot hunt or participate in hunting activities for 15 years and was released on conditional discharge.

"Mr. Gauley's conditional discharge will last for 25 years," explained Mercer County assistant state's attorney Meeghan Lee, who prosecuted the case. "In addition to not being allowed possess a firearm or to leave Illinois except for work purposes, Mr. Gauley could return to court to further answer these charges if he gets in trouble for anything else over the next 25 years. The amount of illegal killing of animals and the misuse of those animals killed by Mr. Gauley was very offensive."

Gauley first came under scrutiny as a teenager when he was arrested by conservation police for a game violation and paid an $800 fine about six year ago.

"That incident put him on our radar screen," CPO Petreikis explained. "After that arrest, it appeared that his behavior improved because we didn't hear scuttlebutt of his illegal activities for a while. But that changed a few years ago, so we started watching much closer as rumors increased. While I don't know this for certain, I think I had several near-misses to catch him poaching, but never did.

"Finally, we received citizen complaints through our TIPS line of his illegal activities that enabled the search warrant and ensuing arrest. I think some people who knew of his activities got tired of it and let us know. In this case and any other, informant sources always remain confidential; we never-ever burn an informant's identity.

"People have concern of retaliation, but people must stick to their guns and stick together. Citizens should never look away. There is strength in numbers. "

Captain Greg Hunter, who oversees conservation police in 25 northwest Illinois counties, agrees and had high praise for those involved in the case.

"Our officers, particularly Laura Petreikis, did an excellent job of investigating this case," he said. "Her skill level is second to none and her tenacity to see this through brought deserved justice.

"This case started with a needed anonymous citizen complaint tip and it wouldn't have happened without the superb assistance of other agencies, especially the Mercer County state's attorney, who took the case very seriously and prosecuted aggressively.

"This case isn't just about poaching. It's also about public safety — driving and drinking alcohol on roads and across fields with loaded high-powered rifles in a vehicle while shooting animals is dangerous to everybody."

The 28 counts that Gauley pleaded guilty to included: some 17 that included illegal taking of deer, taking deer with a high-powered rifle, using other person's deer tag, taking deer from a vehicle, illegally taking a rabbit, a turkey and a great blue heron, and running over a deer with an ATV until it died.

"While serving the search warrant at his residence, we seized five firearms, eight deer heads with antlers and numerous packages of processed venison,'' Petreikis said. "It appears as thought he ate some deer, gave some away and left some to rot. We documented that he took at least 28 deer illegally between October 2007 and January 2011 when we served the warrant; he did not get charged with all of that. The guns, some additional hunting and deer processing equipment were seized and now belong to the DNR."

Two other men charged in the case: Colten J. Brunenn, who faces ten wildlife, vehicle, alcohol and drug charges and Robert L. Gauley (James' father) who faces four deer tag and wildlife charges, have yet to go to court. Coty C. Green pled guilty to one charge of illegal possession of a red-tailed hawk. All are from the Aledo area.


Bob Groene is outdoors writer for The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus, he can be reached at groene@qconline.com

Just another case of people that feel like game laws are not meant to be obeyed.

465H&H

Careful guys. Old Fats and DTS will be along to tell us that it's no big deal. Just a bunch of animals and a big waste of time since it took some time to solve the case.

Mark my words, the Brothers Dumb will rise to the bait before long. Anyone know what the daily bag limit on fools is these days?

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Just another case of people that feel like game laws are not meant to be obeyed.

They're just animals. Geez guys lighten up.

Perry

quote:

Originally posted by perry:

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Just another case of people that feel like game laws are not meant to be obeyed.

They're just animals. Geez guys lighten up.

Perry

What an asinine comment. Your car is merely metal, glass and plastic. So you wouldn't mind if I just took it away from you and had it recycled?

Game animals belong to the public. Poachers steal that resource from the public. Laws were broken. And you tell me that you see no problem with that?

So, did the state of Illinois handle this appropriately?

I used to spend weekends with law dogs from various agencies. To a person each one of them thought the Wildlife Officers were a waste of money and their cases wasted court time.

As I understand it, most poachers could be prosecuted for crimes other than wildlife violation.

One person complained about the wildlife officer in Colorado prosecuting some of the cabin owners for possession/daily limit violations and then went on to describe one case where the person had hid them all over the travel trailer.


Total count was 144 as I remember it. Not a minor violation and distributing them so if caught it would not seem like a big deal to find 5-10 makes it more serious in my way of thinking

They were shocked with my comment of "Good, that is one of the things I expect to be done with my license money."

+10 on BuffNut's opinion
Just my opinion of course.

Flags---That post was probably from the twins elderly brother, LOL!!!

quote:

505 gibbs
one of us

Posted 14 August 2011 00:49 Hide Post
So, did the state of Illinois handle this appropriately?

The state of Illinois couldn't handle a J-walking case appropriately.

Just what he deserved.

I will be the first to admit that we have some really stupid laws in the State of Illinois, including most of the ones that deal with firearms. It is in fact a crime to shoot a deer with a rifle in Illinois - shotgun slugs only during firearms season.

And I would also confess that our state government is hardly the model for others to follow.

But I don't understand how anyone could make the case that the conservation officer or state's attorneys' office should have what - looked the other way? The laws may be stupid, but they are the law and the authorities are supposed to enforce them. I don't like many of those laws and would like to see them changed, but I certainly support law enforcement in its effort to enforce them as long as they remain the law.

BuffNut, Welcome to the twisted world of the AR bversion of Kangaroo Court for poachers.

Some folks want all poachers shot for their actions and some want poachers slapped on the wrist and made stand in the corner for a few days and then sent on their merry way.

Pick a side, grab some popcorn and enjoy the show.

I'm sure I'm way too reasonable to have a very entertaining opinion. But I'm sure I'll enjoy seeing the less reasonable express theirs.

I'd like to see sane game laws enforced by professional law enforcement who exercise their discretion in a reasonable fashion.

People who make mistakes shouldn't be burned at the stake and people who innocently break the law should be given a break or a pretty mild punishment to ensure they don't do it again, in my opinion. But people who intentionally disregard the law or who repeatedly break game laws should suffer a consequence proportional to the crime committed and their history of committing crime. In the story reported at the beginning of this thread, it sounded to me like the guy was getting what he deserved.

That's my position.

Not very entertaining, I'm afraid.

quote:

Originally posted by Flags:

quote:

Originally posted by perry:

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Just another case of people that feel like game laws are not meant to be obeyed.

They're just animals. Geez guys lighten up.

Perry

What an asinine comment. Your car is merely metal, glass and plastic. So you wouldn't mind if I just took it away from you and had it recycled?

Game animals belong to the public. Poachers steal that resource from the public. Laws were broken. And you tell me that you see no problem with that?

But I ride a bike. I agree the animals belong to the public but aren't the poachers part of the public?

Perry

quote:

Originally posted by perry:

quote:

Originally posted by Flags:

quote:

Originally posted by perry:

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Just another case of people that feel like game laws are not meant to be obeyed.

They're just animals. Geez guys lighten up.

Perry

What an asinine comment. Your car is merely metal, glass and plastic. So you wouldn't mind if I just took it away from you and had it recycled?

Game animals belong to the public. Poachers steal that resource from the public. Laws were broken. And you tell me that you see no problem with that?

But I ride a bike. I agree the animals belong to the public but aren't the poachers part of the public?

Perry

The criminal public. Just like any thief. Do you excuse all thieves? Or just poachers?

Flags---I'm telling you that this guy has to be the twins brother, LOL!!!

[QUOTE

The criminal public. [/QUOTE]


So we agree.

Perry

quote:

Originally posted by perry:
[QUOTE

The criminal public.

So we agree.

Perry[/QUOTE]

So, pray tell, where did I or anyone else ever claim that people are not part of the "public"? None of that detracts from the fact that poachers are in violation of the laws. News flash ACE, every criminal is a member of the "public" and, if they are criminals, they are in violation of laws.

Just what axe are you trying to grind? Or are you going out of your way to look foolish?

He doesn't have to go out of his way to look foolish, LOL! The guy has to be Frick & Fracks big brother with this foolish drivel he keeps posting!

Flags,

I kid. You and I had this conversation about 6 months ago...remember. For some reason you included me in with a group of guys that were either light on poachers or did not see a problem with it...this ringing any bells???

I do consider poaching breaking the law, I do hope they are prosecuted (unfortunately, probably just a slap on the wrist though) and I think poaching does screw the legal hunter.


Topgun

Who are the twins???


Perry

quote:

Originally posted by perry:
Flags,

I kid. You and I had this conversation about 6 months ago...remember. For some reason you included me in with a group of guys that were either light on poachers or did not see a problem with it...this ringing any bells???

I do consider poaching breaking the law, I do hope they are prosecuted (unfortunately, probably just a slap on the wrist though) and I think poaching does screw the legal hunter.


Topgun

Who are the twins???


Perry

I remember that post. Something about shooting bobcats etc... For a minute here I thought you were going to prove me right about not objecting to or condemning poaching.

Peace. It's all good.

Well that's a big relief. The twins are Flags good buddies---Mr. 505 & Bro!!!

quote:

originally posted by Flopgun 30-06:
Flags---That post was probably from the twins elderly brother, LOL!!!

quote:

originally posted by Flopgun 30-06:
Flags---I'm telling you that this guy has to be the twins brother, LOL!!!

quote:

originally posted by Flopgun 30-06:
He doesn't have to go out of his way to look foolish, LOL! The guy has to be Frick & Fracks big brother with this foolish drivel he keeps posting!

quote:

originally posted by Flopgun 30-06:
Well that's a big relief. The twins are Flags good buddies---Mr. 505 & Bro!!!

All I can say is "WOW!!", 4 posts on this thread and every one reflects your absolute fascination with me, I don't know whether to be proud or embarassed for you. How does it feel to be completely OWNED??

A couple of weeners!

Oregon men admit illegal hunting in Montana

.Two Oregon men admitted Thursday to federal wildlife violations for bringing other Oregon clients to hunt big game illegally on a Park County ranch.

Richard “Dick” Weiner, 71, and his son, Richard “Matt” Weiner, 42, both of Salem, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. Matt Weiner also pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor violations of the act for transporting illegally taken wildlife.

The Lacey Act regulates the interstate sale, transportation and purchase of wildlife.

The Weiners appeared before U.S Magistrate Judge Carolyn Ostby in Billings.

Plea agreements call for Dick Weiner to pay a $50,000 fine and be sentenced to three years of probation, and for Matt Weiner to pay a $25,000 fine, be sentenced to three years of probation and to forfeit a Winchester rifle. The Weiners also agreed to pay $20,000 in restitution to the state.

The Weiners face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine on the conspiracy count.

Ostby will recommendation to Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull that he accept the pleas. Cebull will set a date and conduct the sentencing.

Ostby continued the Weiners’ release without bond.

The investigation by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks began in 2009. The Weiners were charged in federal court, while others in case were prosecuted in Park County Justice Court, said Chad Murphy, FWP regional investigator.

The violations occurred on the Foster Ranch in the Shields Valley, Murphy said. The ranch’s owner was unaware of the activities, but the owner’s stepson and his wife, Brent and Jennifer Foster, were charged with state wildlife violations, he said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kris McLean said the Weiners own and operate Sunnyview Kennels in Salem, and that Dick Weiner also operates Oregon Outdoor Adventures, an outfitting company that arranged for big-game hunts on the Park County ranch.

For five years until 2010, clients paid Dick Weiner $1,500 to $2,500 to hunt on the ranch, McLean said.

The Weiners accompanied the hunters and provided food, lodging, transportation and some guiding services, McLean said. Many of the clients illegally killed big game on these hunts, he said.

The case focused on four unindicted co-conspirators who were clients of the Weiners and shot deer, antelope and a bull elk without having Montana licenses. The Weiners then illegally transported the animals back to Oregon, McLean said.

In one of the hunts, in 2009, Matt Weiner and a client killed two buck antelope, McLean said. The men decided the first buck antelope was too small and threw it in a gully, while the second antelope was taken back to Oregon, he said.

In some instances, Dick Weiner directed clients to pay others for their Montana licenses or he sold unused Montana licenses to clients, McLean said.

Matt Weiner, the prosecutor said, illegally killed, tagged and transported four whitetail buck deer and two antelope bucks.

Billings attorney Brian Kohn, who represented the Weiners, said the men didn’t consider themselves to be outfitters.

Matt Weiner told the judge he used others’ tags in years when he didn’t get a Montana license.

Thought you were talking about Flags two buddies there for a second, LOL!

I hate to be the wet blanket on this party, but, these constant little poorly disguised jabs at 505 and STU is not accomplishing anything.

Reasonable, worthwhile discussions are being turned into over some differences in philosophy.

Wouldn't this site and this world be a sorry -place if everyone agreed on everything all the time? I think it would.

This kind of stuff is what gets people to stop being active on sites like this, when they start feeling that some post they make just to pass along some information is going to degrade into a pissing contest.

I am not defending either group, both play their part and it really has gotten old.

Websites are not just for passing along information, but also for having a little fun! PS: There was no veiled attempt to keep who was being spoken about a deep, dark secret! If people don't have thick enough skin to get on the net and dish a little out here and there, then that's too bad. The ones being spoken about can sure hold their own, but I put them on ignore to try and keep things a little more on track like you mentioned. I'll try harder!

It is one thing to have fun, it is another to turn every post about poaching, a serious problem around the world into a pissing match.

I do not have anyone on ignbore on any of the sites I participate on. If I do not agree with them or like what they have to say, I merely skip over their posts when I come to them.

It is not just the people involved in the discussion that are not getting anything out of the pissing contests but also the folks just browsing thru the various topics.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
I hate to be the wet blanket on this party, but, these constant little poorly disguised jabs at 505 and STU is not accomplishing anything.

Reasonable, worthwhile discussions are being turned into over some differences in philosophy.

Wouldn't this site and this world be a sorry -place if everyone agreed on everything all the time? I think it would.

This kind of stuff is what gets people to stop being active on sites like this, when they start feeling that some post they make just to pass along some information is going to degrade into a pissing contest.

I am not defending either group, both play their part and it really has gotten old.

Tadddaaaa. Thank you.

Once a thread goes into the toilet, I rarely post in it again.

Reason: I waste enough time without having to scroll through drivel, especially when it amounts to nothing more than back-&-forth personal insults and vulgar name calling.

I always wonder why some people can't disagree without being disagreeable. It's quite easy if one sticks to discussing the ISSUE and leaves all the personal stuff in their keyboard.

Gotta agree with both of you and as I said, I'll try harder not to be a bad boy!

It is not a case of trying harder TopGun. Think of it more along the lines of sighting in a rifle.

The rifle prefers one weight or one type of bullet over another. If the shooter keeps trying to force the rifle to like a bullet it does not like, there is going to be a lot of frustration.

Same with folks on a forum, except, unlike a bullet or a rifle, which are both inanimate objects, people on forums think for themselves.

Some of what they post maybe really how they feel on a subject, or they may just be posting that stuff because they know it irritates someone and they find that funny.

It is the internet and no one really cares what any of us think.