USFWS Officials Plead Guilty to Illegal Taking of Bull Elk

[Bean Counter]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/us-wildlife-workers-plead-guilty-to-poaching-related-charges/2016/07/12/f1773ff6-489e-11e6-8dac-0c6e4accc5b1_story.html
DENVER — Two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees pleaded guilty to poaching-related charges in the killing of a trophy-class bull elk in western Colorado, state officials said Tuesday.

Thad Bingham, 44, and Brian Scheer, 45, pleaded guilty to trespassing on private land that was closed to hunting at the time of the 2014 incident, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Mike Porras said.

Bingham also pleaded guilty to illegal wildlife possession, the state said. Bingham shot the animal with a bow and arrow, Porras said. Scheer and two other men — who didn’t work for the federal agency — were along on the hunt, he said.

The investigation began after Bingham posted a photo of himself with the elk online, and state officers could tell from the image that the area was off-limits to hunting, officials said...

[NRA4LIFE]

Wow, what an idiot.

[jrebel]

Bet they make an example out of this guy!!!!  As they should!!!   

[trophyhunt]

Wow is right, how frickin stupid.  Good for the prosecutor! 

[hoytem]

doesn't sound like they made much of an example out of them. Some fines and "possibly lose hunting license for 5 years?"

[KFhunter]

I'm not going to bash them w/o knowing details other than they plead guilty and appear to be taking their lumps instead of making excuses and hiring lawyers to get them off.

[Dhoey07]

doesn't sound like they made much of an example out of them. Some fines and "possibly lose hunting license for 5 years?"

 

[Tjv28]

Wow, what an idiot.

Completely

[pianoman9701]

Bet they make an example out of this guy!!!!  As they should!!!   

Yes, they'll likely put them in charge of the USFWS wolf program.

[trophyhunt]

doesn't sound like they made much of an example out of them. Some fines and "possibly lose hunting license for 5 years?"

Compared to a couple cases around here, I'd say they got what they had coming to them.  5,000 dollars is a ton of money on an elk you don't get to keep, plus the rifle.  I would also imagine they lost their jobs or got suspended without pay for a while, but that's just a guess.  Shoot, that kapowsin case had better evidence and those guys are laughing about it. IMHO

[pianoman9701]

doesn't sound like they made much of an example out of them. Some fines and "possibly lose hunting license for 5 years?"

Compared to a couple cases around here, I'd say they got what they had coming to them.  5,000 dollars is a ton of money on an elk you don't get to keep, plus the rifle.  I would also imagine they lost their jobs or got suspended without pay for a while, but that's just a guess.  Shoot, that kapowsin case had better evidence and those guys are laughing about it. IMHO

They work for the USFWS. They should at the very least lose their jobs. How can you work for the Wildlife Service and be a poacher. It's like being a cop and stealing cars.

[trophyhunt]

I certainly would expect it, but they didn't mention it??

[pianoman9701]

No, they didn't.

[engelwood]

"Bingham was fined $200 and ordered to donate $5,000 to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The other three were fined $86 each.

They could also lose their Colorado hunting and fishing privileges for five years after a review by a hearing officer."

What a joke. Slap on the wrist!!!!!!

[4fletch]

Looks like they are taking g care of their own