Lewiston Man Gets 90 Days for Poaching

By Mike Demick, Clearwater Regional Conservation Educator Butchering a poached deer in the back of a pickup truck parked on a Lewiston street led to jail time, fines and the loss of a rifle and hunting and fishing privileges for one local man. On June 2, Richard Lee Black, 27, of Lewiston was convicted of unlawful possession of wildlife. Nez Perce County District Judge Carl Kerrick sentenced Black, a convicted felon, to 90 days in jail, two years probation, a $1,980 fine, loss of hunting and fishing privileges for three years, and the loss of his rifle. The case began November 3, 2005, when Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officer George Fischer responded to reports of three men butchering a deer in the back of a grey four-wheel-drive Chevrolet pickup parked on East Main Street in north Lewiston. When Fischer arrived at the scene, he saw a box of rifle cartridges on the dashboard and three individuals butchering a mature whitetail buck in the truck bed. When he found no deer tag attached to the carcass, Fischer asked who had shot the deer. After a brief silence, Black said that the deer belonged to Troy, his brother-in-law's friend who had just left. Black said he did not hunt, but he had let Troy borrow his truck to go hunting on Webb Ridge south of Lewiston. After further questioning, Black denied having any guns in the vehicle and gave Fischer permission to search it. Fischer found several spent .30-30 casings, a Marlin .30-30 rifle, binoculars, and a spotlight plugged into the cigarette lighter. Fischer explained to Black that having a deer carcass without a tag was unlawful. He then seized the deer and rifle and advised Black that he would be charged with possession of unlawfully taken deer if Troy did not come to the Lewiston Fish and Game office and explain why the deer was not tagged. Black assured Fischer that Troy truly existed, and that he would bring him to the office later that afternoon. Back at the Clearwater Regional office at 3 p.m., Fischer determined by measuring the temperature along the deer's thigh bones that the animal had been killed about 10 to 12 hours earlier - likely with the aid of artificial light sometime between 3 and 5 a.m. that day. Fischer also discovered that Black's driver's license was suspended. Charges of failing to tag the deer, driving on a suspended license and illegal possession of a firearm were dismissed, and Black pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unlawful possession of wildlife. "This sentence sends a strong message that this sort of illegal activity won't be tolerated," Fischer said. "The Nez Perce County court system affirmed the seriousness of this crime with the penalty given." Concerned individuals play a vital role in protecting Idaho's wildlife. Anyone with information about wildlife violations is urged to contact their nearest Fish and Game office, any local law enforcement authority or call the Citizens Against Poaching Hotline at 800-632-5999. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.