October 20, 2010
Calif men sentenced in Yosemite poaching case
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif.-A federal judge has sentenced three Southern California men accused of illegally hunting mule deer in Yosemite National Park.
The Sacramento Bee reports that 39-year-old Chad Gierlich of Riverside was fined more than $50,000 on Tuesday. His brother, 36-year-old Christopher Gierlich of Fontana, was sentenced to 45 days under house arrest, and their friend, 36-year-old Kyle Narasky of Apple Valley, received a $7,500 fine. All three men received probation. They were also previously sentenced by a Mono County judge.
Authorities say the suspects killed at least three trophy bucks in the park with a bow and arrow in the summer of 2008. Hunting is banned in the park.
The three were charged after a California Department of Fish and Game warden received a tip and tracked them for days.