Down Under Poaching Suspects Arrested, Jailed

By Evin Oneale - Idaho Department of Fish and Game Three Australians suspected of poaching were arrested last week on multiple charges and later booked into the Elmore County jail. Eleven charges have been filed against the men, with a combined bond set at $165,000. Anton Kepeller, 58, Darren Tubb, 43, and Samuel Henley, 18, all from Tasmania, Australia, were contacted and later arrested by Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers on Thursday, November 3, near Atlanta. The following day, the three men appeared in court before Elmore County magistrate Judge David Epis, where formal charges were read. Kepeller faces six misdemeanor counts, including possession of unlawfully taken elk, and aiding-counseling the killing of elk during closed season. Tubb was charged with three misdemeanors, including killing a bull elk closed season, wasteful destruction of elk, and transfer of a tag. Henley faces two charges, including attempting to kill elk during closed season and use of a tag of another. Epis set bond for Kepeller, Tubb and Henley at $75,000, $50,000 and $40,000 respectively. He also added special conditions to the case, requiring the three men - should they bond out of jail - to appear for a bond hearing and not leave the state of Idaho. The investigation continues, and more charges could be filed in the future. Evin Oneale is the regional conservation educator for the Southwest Region.