February 16, 2010
Ridgefield man sentenced for illegally hunting
A Ridgefield man was among four people sentenced for illegally hunting elk in Wallowa County, Ore., Oregon State Police reported Tuesday.
George Chechelnitski, 53, pleaded guilty Jan. 27 to a misdemeanor charge of taking elk without a valid tag. He received two years probation, two years suspension of his hunting license and $2,108 in fines and fees.
According to an Oregon State Police press release, Chechelnitski and three other Portland-area residents had harvested two spike elk on Nov. 7, 2007, the first day of Chesnimnus elk season. The group was hunting at the Chesnimnus elk unit in Wallowa County.
After further investigation, troopers determined only one of the hunters had a valid elk tag for that unit.
Parts of one of the slain elk were left behind. DNA evidence on hunting materials at one of the suspect’s homes matched the elk carcass, investigators said.
The three other defendants, Aleksandr Katko , 53, of Gresham, Ore.; Vadim Titoukh, 44, of Boring, Ore.; and Vasiliy Pitsul, 48, of Portland, Ore, were given similar sentences. They had pleaded guilty to a charge of aiding in a violation of wildlife laws.