Stop! Do Not Pass Go! Go Directly to Jail!

ST. ANTHONY - Monopoly is a fun board game and hunting is a wholesome sport, but lying to the judge about poaching is a dangerous game. A father and son poaching team from Sugar City broke the law and then gambled on a lie. They lost and drew the "GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL" card from the chance card stack. Early this December, after receiving reports of spotlighting on previous mornings, Senior Conservation Officers Joe Curry, John Hanson and Justin William headed out north of Ashton in the early morning hours. Once they arrived in the area where the previous nocturnal poaching had been reported they set up full-sized taxidermy elk. Conservation officers across the nation have made such simulated wildlife a standard part of the toolbox they use to catch poachers. When problems occur, the simulated wildlife is placed in the problem area, but with a safe backstop in case a poacher shoots. In this case, the officers picked the right tool for the job. Nearly two hours before legal shooting hours, conservation officers observed Clayton Perry (Age 67) & David Perry (Age 39) of Sugar City use their vehicle headlights to illuminate the faux elk and each shoot at it. Unfortunately, this was not the first time that the father and son team had been cited for spotlighting, or various other fish & game violations, but soon they would be graduating to a higher crimes by committing perjury before a judge. Later, the two appeared in Fremont County Court before Judge Keith Walker regarding the December spotlighting citations. When asked under oath by the judge if they had previous records, both lied and replied "No." Based on these responses, the judge handed down what would have been a typical sentence. But shortly afterward, when the judge learned that the men had lied, they were summoned back for a sentencing review. This time when they appeared before the judge and their true histories were presented a much different sentence was handed down. Clayton Perry was fined $1,000 plus court costs. His hunting & fishing license was revoked for three years and he was placed on a two year probation during which period he may absolutely not associate with any hunting or fishing camp or party or even possess hunting or fishing equipment in his vehicles during the hunting or fishing season! David Perry was fined $500 plus court costs and received the same strict hunting & fishing association prohibitions. Both men were also sentenced to 180 days in jail, with Clayton being ordered to immediately serve 10 days and David 5 days, the remainder of days held in abeyance pending probation. Because of their records, Judge Walker ordered both men placed into immediate custody! Officer Williams summed up the situation best when he said, "Clayton Perry has a total of nine fishing & hunting violations, David four. These fellows weren't making honest mistakes, they were repeating crimes." Because the wildlife resources belong to all citizens of the State, poachers are stealing from everyone. According to Williams, "Every time an animal is killed illegally we are all robbed. There is no difference between a poacher and a thief. They both take something that doesn't belong to them!"