Utah Man Spotlights Deer Gets Charged With Felony

[alsaqr]

Spotlighting is not his primary concern.

"In the Fifth District Court in Salt Lake City, Ethan Lebaron was charged with wanton destruction of protected wildlife by using spotlights at night to kill the deer, in this case a third-degree felony. He was also charged with a tagging requirement violation, a class B misdemeanor, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources announced. Charges are still being considered for the two men who were with Lebaron."

The spot lighters problem: He killed a "trophy" buck. That's a felony.
"A buck whose antler spread measures 24 inches or more makes it a trophy and illegally killing one a felony-level offense. It calls for a minimum restitution of $8,000. Lebaron’s deer measured 24.5 inches. Had it been under 24 inches, it would have been a Class A misdemeanor and the restitution would have been a minimum of $400."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mor...-an-inch/ar-BB10tNNi?li=BBnb7Kz&OCID=AVRES000

i cry no tears for this guy.

 

[jmorris]

If they don’t break the law, they wouldn’t be charged or even more important convicted and stripped of the rights law abiding citizens enjoy.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I’ll say it again, play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

 

[Rembrandt]

Poaching is poaching no matter what the antler spread. For this guy just a 1/2" made it a felony instead of a misdemeanor. Laws that don't enforce the legal intent evenly create incentives for poachers to go right up to the line of what's legal. Sort of like being partially pregnant.

More consequences for bad actions would result in less violations.

 

[whughett]

Punishment fits the crime. Compare that rather light sentence for a felony to the one a California man, thread currently running on this forum, received for a similar offense, classified a misdemeanor. Justice may be blind but she sure is finicky.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

What I find worse, is the schmuck killed the buck while in velvet, so he poached a trophy deer with antlers that he couldn't even keep, as they tend to be soft and will often crumble over time. So he was showing off, or wanted to prevent somebody else from getting the trophy in a legal manner, or both....



LD

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I read about this and laughed and laughed after all the boohooing in the other thread where folks thought the California guy was over prosecuted.

Punishment fits the crime. Compare that rather light sentence for a felony to the one a California man, thread currently running on this forum, received for a similar offense, classified a misdemeanor. Justice may be blind but she sure is finicky.

Different state, different laws, different circumstances, different punishment.

 

[entropy]

No mercy for poachers.