HAMILTON – A Hamilton man will serve jail time, pay restitution and lose his hunting privileges after pleading guilty to his part in what’s been called the largest bear poaching case in state history.
Richard Sublette, 56, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges Monday in Justice of the Peace Jim Bailey’s court as part of a plea agreement that dropped four additional misdemeanors.
Sublette was one of three Ravalli County men charged last July with killing nine black bears with the aid of bait.
Kyle L. Whyard, 26, of Darby, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges in January.
James “Jimmy” Harrison of Darby was charged with five felonies. His case is currently working its way through district court.
Sublette pleaded guilty Monday to unlawful possession of a large game animal, reporting a false kill site, and accountability for waste of game.
Bailey sentenced Sublette to 180 days in jail, with 173 suspended. Sublette was required to serve the seven days starting Monday.
In addition, Sublette must pay $1,705 in fines and $2,000 in restitution. Bailey also revoked Sublette’s hunting privileges for five years and required him to forfeit the bear he killed and kept during the poaching spree.
Sublette will be on 18 months probation.
The men were charged following an investigation that began last June after Harrison called a game warden to report that his two hunting partners had killed a bear in the Trail Creek area of the Big Hole Valley. Harrison said both a male and female bear had been shot.
After the warden made arrangements to inspect the bears the next day, state officials received an anonymous call saying Harrison was in possession of a black bear just off the West Fork Road in Ravalli County.
The warden found two bear carcasses – a male and a female – dumped near Trapper Creek road. The two animals had large chunks of meat removed, but still possessed ample quantities fit for human consumption.
One of the bears still had Whyard’s bear license wrapped on its leg.
An affidavit said Harrison eventually offered details on nine bears he was involved in killing in Ravalli and Beaverhead counties between 2009 and 2014. Harrison was convicted last August on bear-baiting and other illegal activities in Beaverhead County.
(10) comments
Loss of hunting rights for only 5 years? This creep's crimes were not an "accident", but deliberately thought out ahead of time (baiting). Should lose hunter rights for LIFE.
7 days actual jail time anf less than four thousand dollars in fines. Sad judgement
Think of it being equivalent to a DUI conviction that involved manslaughter i.e. sImilar sentence...along with the reciprocity in pretty much all states west of the Mississippi as far as hunting and fishing privilege loss is concerned.
A slap on the wrist. Turns my stomach.
He is a disgusting creature. GD him for murdering those innocent animals.
Well we just got done building a brand new jail here in Miles City, would love to have him for the 180 days the dirt bag deserves. He might not be a threat to other humans, but how many more animals will he kill before he learns his lesson?
Seems like a very light sentence and fine. Particularly since most of the jail time was suspended and the loss of hunting privileges was only for five years.
What rational did the judge have in suspending so much of an appropriate sentence?
Probably due to jail overcrowding and lack of funds in a pretty anti-tax county to build additional jail space. Since these guys likely don't pose a serious threat to other humans priority for jail space is given to those that do.
Happy reading in jail Dick!
Hope DFWG doesn't dig up any more bones at your home or secret burial plots.
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