Twisp family denies killing gray wolves - Wenatchee World

[bearpaw]

Our local hound club used to hold field trials every summer, Bill and his kids always helped out a lot and were very well liked. There's no doubt they are in deep trouble over the wolves, but the White's are also being labeled as deer and moose poachers. Did they kill those animals out of season, or was it just a technicality they messed up on, I don't know, but I think there is a lot of difference between intentionally shooting something out of season and screwing up up on a technicality? I still think machias made a good point, people are innocent until proven guilty in this country.

If it turns out that they were trying to protect their cattle or sheep, or something like that, then I think that should be taken into consideration with the wolf charges, Oregon just made it legal to protect your livestock if attacked by wolves and I think Idaho and MT have provisions for that too. 

[Goomsba]

Our local hound club used to hold field trials every summer, Bill and his kids always helped out a lot and were very well liked. There's no doubt they are in deep trouble over the wolves, but the White's are also being labeled as deer and moose poachers. Did they kill those animals out of season, or was it just a technicality they messed up on, I don't know, but I think there is a lot of difference between intentionally shooting something out of season and screwing up up on a technicality? I still think machias made a good point, people are innocent until proven guilty in this country.

If it turns out that they were trying to protect their cattle or sheep, or something like that, then I think that should be taken into consideration with the wolf charges, Oregon just made it legal to protect your livestock if attacked by wolves and I think Idaho and MT have provisions for that too. 

[Okano-gun]

I wonder how they pled on the non wolf charges? Bill White already pled guilty in Canada to poaching a moose and illegal export of the moose and a whitetail into the U.S. (the charges the cannucks hung on him).

As I suspected this is completely false.  Please don't spread false rumors about folks.

I have no reason to spread false rumors. This is not false, a very credible enforcement officer told me this. It will all come out in the wash.

That's funny, they must not have told the White's.  I know for a FACT they have not plead guilty to anything, your LEO friend is full of *censored*.

Twisp man pleads guilty in wolf killing case

Thomas ClouseThe Spokesman-Review
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Tags:endangered speciesJudge Frem NielsenMethow ValleyTimothy OhmsTwispWilliam D. Whitewolf

A Twisp man pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to kill a protected wolf and send its pelt to a friend in Canada in return for the friend’s help in illegally killing a moose.

Wearing a leather vest and cowboy hat, William D. White, 62, pleaded guilty in federal court to the charges of conspiracy to take an endangered species, conspiracy to transport endangered species and unlawful importation of wildlife. The importation charge stemmed from the moose, which White brought back to the Methow Valley from Canada along with a whitetail deer.

As part of the federal plea, White also agreed to plead guilty to two state charges, including hunting bears with a dog.

White declined comment after the plea before U.S. District Court Judge Frem Nielsen, but White’s attorney, Bevan Maxey, said his client was simply trying to protect his livestock when he conspired with his son, Tom D. White, to kill two wolves from Washington’s first documented wolf pack.

“I think the issues point out the inherent difficulties livestock owners are presented with relating to wolves,” Maxey said. “It’s clear the interest of government … differs depending on where you live.”

He was alluding to the fact that neighboring Idaho allows wolf hunting, in which 376 wolves have been killed through hunting or trapping as part of the most recent season.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Ohms said the investigation showed that White, and his family, engaged in a pattern of illegal game hunting.

According to the court files, the case began in December 2008 when a FedEx worker reported to Omak police a package that was seeping blood. The investigation revealed that it was a wolf pelt being sent to a man in Alberta, Canada.

The investigation revealed that Tom White had killed the wolf and his wife had shipped the package, Ohms said. Charges against Tom White and his wife are pending.

A search warrant found emails talking about the eradication of wolves using traps and poison. Also found were photographs that showed an image on Dec. 13, 2008, with a different wolf that Tom White had killed.

Previous to the wolf kills, William White had traveled to hunt in Alberta, where he hunted illegally on a local man’s tag. White said he wasn’t sure if he killed the moose in question, but told Judge Nielsen that he shot at the moose and intended to kill it. He then returned back to Twisp with the moose and a whitetail deer.

Ohms said Erin White was sending the wolf pelt back to the hunting buddy in Canada who had helped William White get the moose.

In addition to state and federal charges, William White also pleaded guilty to two hunting violations in Canada. As part of the overall agreement, White will be fined $38,500 and lose possession of a trap, two guns and any remaining wolf parts in his possession. Although he faced as many as three years in prison, the plea agreement calls for a sentence of three years supervised release.

Nielsen scheduled White’s sentencing for July 11. But that may not be the end. Ohms said prosecutors are reserving the right to file additional charges, because Ohms said the search warrant also found evidence of eagle parts in White’s possession


I don't spread false rumors about folks, all coming out in the wash!

[Machias]

Feel better?  I guess you waited a while to be able to post this.  AT THE TIME you posted this it was not true, they just NOW plead guilty.  That's all we were saying LAST YEAR when you posted they had plead guilty, that would be spreading rumors.

[bearpaw]

  definitely very true....



I still question exactly what the White's actually did and exactly how bad it was what ever they did do?

As part of the federal plea, White also agreed to plead guilty to two state charges, including hunting bears with a dog.

White declined comment after the plea before U.S. District Court Judge Frem Nielsen, but White’s attorney, Bevan Maxey, said his client was simply trying to protect his livestock when he conspired with his son, Tom D. White, to kill two wolves from Washington’s first documented wolf pack.

“I think the issues point out the inherent difficulties livestock owners are presented with relating to wolves,” Maxey said. “It’s clear the interest of government … differs depending on where you live.”

White made an agreement to plea guilty as stated in the story. A plea is often made to get a case settled so people can get on with their lives. I can not see by this story that the Whites were proven to not be protecting their property as they claim.

If Bill White was protecting his livestock he was doing very little wrong in many rural people's eyes if he killed those wolves to protect his livestock. I would not hold the White's any more at fault for protecting their livestock than I would if they had shot a burglar breaking into their home. I feel they should have the right to protect themselves and their property. Some states still have a law on their books for hanging horse theives, so I hope people can see what I am trying to explain.

The story also stated that White plead guilty to hunting bear with hounds. I have no idea what really happened, but I do know that bear also kill livestock and I have to wonder if that is what happened with the bear, White may have been simply protecting his livestock.

To put things in a more realistic light, if eastern Washington wasn't legally bound and gagged by a more populous western Washington, we would likely be legally shooting wolves and hunting bear with hounds in eastern Washington just as they do in Idaho. I'm not saying that White did the right thing or that he didn't use poor judgement in regards to following the law, but I think his attorney did a pretty good job of explaining their situation and the poor laws that are being forced on eastern Washington by more populous western Washington urban voters.

I know the White's and as I stated before they are extremely good people, I would still welcome them as my neighbors, they would likely be far better neighbors to have than many of their accusers. 

[boneaddict]

I know the White's and as I stated before they are extremely good people, I would still welcome them as my neighbors, they would likely be far better neighbors to have than many of their accusers

A-men.   I'd share a pot of coffee, a campfire, whatever with Bill.   He's good people in my book, no matter what the media makes him out to look like.  I'm glad to know him. 

[bearpaw]

(Additional info regarding the legal issues of shooting wolves to protect your livestock.)

I was at the Stevens County Republican caucus and introduced an amendment to the Stevens County republican platform staing that the county is opposed to the Washington wolf plan and opposed to having any wolves in Washington. There were over two hundred delegates and I only heard two people opposed when the vote was taken.

I have spoken with all three Stevens County commissioners and they are all opposed to wolves being forced into our county.

The feds have delisted wolves in a good portion of eastern Washington, if we didn't have a wolf plan forced upon us by a western Washington agency that bows to animal preservationist organizations, we would likely be able to legally protect our livestock against predators (wolves or bear, with or without hounds) and the Whites may not have even violated a law.

I am not saying the White's did the right thing or that they used good judgement, obviously the facts point to the contrary. However, many Washington residents are more concerned about the protection of property rights and self defense of property than others, and that certainly puts people like the White's and other livestock producers in a precarious situation. There are three cattlemen in Stevens County who are currently missing a total of 41 head of cattle which are thought to be losses to wolves.

You would have had a hard time finding a jury in Stevens County or in Ferry, Pend Orielle, or Okanogan County that would have convicted Bill White.

[Skyvalhunter]

Okanogun you seem to be one of those people that twists things around to fit your own agenda instead of find out the real story.

[WAcoyotehunter]

It sounds like Bill White has made a long habit of poaching and hunting illegally.  I'm glad the case is settled and we can move on with legal wolf management.

[pianoman9701]

It sounds like Bill White has made a long habit of poaching and hunting illegally.  I'm glad the case is settled and we can move on with legal wolf management.

I don't know the Whites or their situation. What disturbs me about this report and seems at first glance the most telling, besides the wolf killings and related charges, is that they poached animals in Canada and transported them into the US, contrary to state and federal law, and international agreements with Canada. They also hunted bears with hounds without a permit to do so. In addition, if the report that they're in possession of eagle parts is true, I'm inclined to think that besides just being concerned for their livestock and livelihood, they have no respect for any kind of wildlife law/regulation with which they disagree. I do understand that eagles can kill livestock.

I hate the fact that we can't shoot wolves and I have even less of a stake in it than someone who owns livestock. I hate the fact that we can't hunt bears or cougars with dogs or bait because their populations are out of balance and need to be controlled. But, if we all completely ignored the law and did whatever we felt was right in our own mind, it would lead to anarchy. Only from what I've read and with no personal experience it appears the Whites feel they're above the law. I'm aware of the fact that I may be missing quite a lot of information.

[Machias]

I'm not going to cast any stones towards the Whites, there's plenty of folks who will gladly be tossing as many hate filled stones as they can. (That is not directed at Bart or Pianoman).  Did they make mistakes, we all agree, including Bill, that they made mistakes.  Long line of poaching?  Above the law?  I don't think that's the case, but I understand why you think so.  One point I will convey, does either of you have something you are extremely passionate about?  Something that was deeply part of your life for 40 to 50 years?  Now imagine if one day it was taken away by a bunch of folks who have no clue about those passions.  Heck they have no clue at all about wildlife management, tradition, anything that involves our way of life.  I'm not just talking about a hobby you really like to do occasionally, I'm talking about something that runs through every fiber of your body.  Well that is hound hunting and trapping to alot of guys and I know Bill has been a houndsmen his whole life.  Running bears and lions illegally.........nope I'm not tossing any stones at the man.

[pianoman9701]

I'm not going to cast any stones towards the Whites, there's plenty of folks who will gladly being tossing as many hate filled stones as they can. (That is not directed at Bart or Pianoman).  Did they make mistakes, we all agree, including Bill, that they made mistakes.  Long line of poaching?  Above the law?  I don't think that's the case, but I understand why you think so.  One point I will convey, does either of you have something you are extremely passionate about?  Something that was deeply part of your life for 40 to 50 years?  Now imagine if one day it was taken away by a bunch of folks who have no clue about those passions.  Heck they have no clue at all about wildlife management, tradition, anything that involves our way of life.  I'm not just talking about a hobby you really like to do occasionally, I'm talking about something that runs through every fiber of your body.  Well that is hound hunting and trapping to alot of guys and I know Bill has been a houndsmen his whole life.  Running bears and lions illegally.........nope I'm not tossing any stones at the man.

I understand your points and have not worn his shoes, or your, Fred. 

[humanure]

Personal feelings aside, evidence has shown in that report that he was a habitual poacher. Wolf, bear, moose AND eagle? Sorry, but this guy deserves whatever he gets for breaking laws that he's suppossed to be up-holding at hunters ed classes. I'm all for standing up for your own and don't knock you guys for standing behind your friend. It shows how loyal you are to a friend. But the fact remains, he didn't make just one mistake. He made alot of mistakes over a period of time, deliberately. Email's showing conspiring to poison wolves? Yeah, shows what he thinks of the law that he's chosen to instill in young hunters minds.

[seth30]

Personal feelings aside, evidence has shown in that report that he was a habitual poacher. Wolf, bear, moose AND eagle? Sorry, but this guy deserves whatever he gets for breaking laws that he's suppossed to be up-holding at hunters ed classes. I'm all for standing up for your own and don't knock you guys for standing behind your friend. It shows how loyal you are to a friend. But the fact remains, he didn't make just one mistake. He made alot of mistakes over a period of time, deliberately. Email's showing conspiring to poison wolves? Yeah, shows what he thinks of the law that he's chosen to instill in young hunters minds.

[MuleySniper]

I'm gonna go pop some pop corn. Some good reads tonight! I like pianomans view... Sounds like the guy is still a poacher to me. Sometimes really nice guys are criminals too.
MS