Guy who slaughtered 24 elk was sentenced

[Curly]

Well....  you know the rancher probably wore a cowboy hat. 

[OutHouse]

When I look at whether or not someone got an easy punishment or not I look at the maximum penalty for the charge vs. what they got.

Illegally killing an elk in Oregon is a Class A Misdemeanor carrying up to a $6,250 criminal fine, up to 1 year in jail plus $1,500 in restitution for a "non-trophy elk" or $15,000 for a non-trophy elk. A judge can also impose a higher restitution if they'd like

So, in this case if he were charged with killing the 24 elk (I actually remember seeing an article they only charged for 12..) he faced up to $150,000 in criminal fines, 24 years in jail and $36,000 in restitution (based off the non-trophy amount).

In this case the individual received no criminal fine, no jail time, and $18,000 in restitution.

Now I don't know the rancher, I'm sure none of us do. He may be your average rancher and a $18,000 restitution will definitely hurt him, he also could have a lot of money, I honestly don't know. But I will say that in terms of what he got vs. what he could've gotten he got off. The fact that he doesn't have to spend a day in jail is mind boggling. 

My position exactly. I am surprised as to the amount of posts here that think that his sentence was fair for killing 24 er 6 elk but I shouldn't be since this is the Left Coast  Killing all those elk was not for self-preservation. You are right, he got off.

I think it is all relative.  Have you read "operation cody"?  That guy got off.  Don't get me wrong I wish this guy would have got more but he made a deal and didn't go to court.  I could see him gettting even less if it went to trial.  At least in Washington I could see him getting less.

     Although he may not have a perfect defense, a few members of a jury could easily be convinced that this guy had valuable property that he was protecting by shooting the elk. If it would have went to trial, I would not at all be surprised if it was a hung jury or even an acquittal.

[2MANY]

Hhhmmmm he has to pay $18000.00 plus all the feed he lost, and damage they did to his ranch. The guy that shot a trophy bull elk in a GMU that was closed for branched antler bull elk got off with nothing paid in restitution.

The rancher didn't go unpunished. 

The poacher did though. 

How much damage was done to his ranch? You don't even know. Did this rancher let the general public hunt his land to cull the herd? I doubt it. How many of those 24 elk would be trophies? How close to his home did he shoot them? Who got all the meat, hides and heads?

They should have at least forced him to post the equivalent of Washington's "Feel Free to Hunt" signs for the next twenty years and not exclude shooting right next to his residence.

The point is neither the poacher nor the rancher should escape jail time. Its the law and should be enforced in court especially when one kills 24 6 elk. What's the sense in passing laws that no one enforces? Oh, we already know how that works out...

Why would he post Washington signs on his ranch in Oregon?

[2MANY]

I'm shocked he had to pay a thing.
He should probably get a better lawyer next time.

[Pegasus]

Hhhmmmm he has to pay $18000.00 plus all the feed he lost, and damage they did to his ranch. The guy that shot a trophy bull elk in a GMU that was closed for branched antler bull elk got off with nothing paid in restitution.

The rancher didn't go unpunished. 

The poacher did though. 

How much damage was done to his ranch? You don't even know. Did this rancher let the general public hunt his land to cull the herd? I doubt it. How many of those 24 elk would be trophies? How close to his home did he shoot them? Who got all the meat, hides and heads?

They should have at least forced him to post the equivalent of Washington's "Feel Free to Hunt" signs for the next twenty years and not exclude shooting right next to his residence.

The point is neither the poacher nor the rancher should escape jail time. Its the law and should be enforced in court especially when one kills 24 6 elk. What's the sense in passing laws that no one enforces? Oh, we already know how that works out...

Why would he post Washington signs on his ranch in Oregon?

I guess you either don't know the meaning of the word "equivalent" or you are just a troll.

[Special T]

I think everyone needs to read Operation Cody who is upset at this story.  WDFW enforment leadership actively screwed investigations...

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[grundy53]

$18,000 would buy a lot of hay...

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[The Gobble-stopper]

I have a friend in Wallowa county that ranches and that find is chump change. My friend says that most of the big ranches in that area make big money on their beef. And that he can make it up in one little sale of cattle. I am assuming he has a big herd or he wouldn't have been worried about killing 6 as he admits or the 24 he is accused of. And as I see it why didn't e get his hunting privileges taken away for life. Its my understanding, statistically only 2 % of all hunters get 1 elk in their lifetime. Of course there are others. He took at least 6 so he has used up his elk for his life! I too think the court system is in need of repair. Make the sentence fit the crime. People arnt going to learn with a slap on the hand. Just my opinion...

[2MANY]

There is little doubt that the rancher had complained about the elk prior and the department of fish and wildlife didn't get off their butt and do anything about it.
Hence the relative weak penalty.

The rancher should be granted more landowner tags to help mitigate the problem in the future and Ken should get a haircut.