Flagrant Violation Costs Privileges for 10 Years

A recent Washington County court sentencing demonstrated the consequences of running afoul of Idaho's statute on "flagrant violation" of wildlife laws. One of the acts that can invoke the flagrant violation law is obtaining a hunting license while under license suspension stemming from a previous poaching case. In the Washington County (Weiser) case, Magistrate Gregory F. Frates sentenced Neil Common, 21, of Midvale to pay fines, civil penalties, fees and court costs of $3,663 with $1,500 suspended. Common was also sentenced to spend 30 days in jail with another 17 months suspended and supervised probation until February of 2004. Common's hunting and fishing license privileges were revoked for 10 years. Because Idaho belongs to the Wildlife Violators Compact, the hunting license privileges will also be revoked in 11 other states including most of the West. The investigation began because senior conservation officer Bill London discovered that Common had illegally purchased a hunting license and deer tag while his license privileges were revoked in a previous poaching case. London could not find Common in his usual Boise County hunting areas but learned that he had moved to Washington County. London notified the conservation officer in Washington County who not only found Common but also discovered that he had illegally killed a mule deer buck while his license was revoked. Common was cited for purchase of a hunting license while revoked, purchase of a deer tag while revoked, and unlawful take of a mule deer. The purchase of a license and tag while revoked each invokes the "Flagrant Violation" statute, IC 36-1402(e), in which there is a mandatory license revocation of one year to life. Judge Frates found Common guilty on all counts.