June 13, 2012
By Jeremy Pelzer, Trib.com
CHEYENNE—A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a Ten Sleep rancher and an Oregon hunter to probation and tens of thousands of dollars in fines and restitution, bringing an apparent end to one of Wyoming’s largest illegal hunting cases in years.
Four others have already pleaded guilty in the case, in which several out-of-state hunters paid thousands each to shoot animals on the Carter family’s ranch, illegally use the family’s landowner tags on the animals, and take them back home. Richard Carter Sr. was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal on Wednesday to four years of supervised probation for helping with the scheme and allowing other hunters to use his landowner tags. Carter also received a $5,000 fine and has voluntarily paid $10,000 in restitution to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Freudenthal also sentenced Oregon hunter Matt Robinson to two years probation, a $2,500 fine and $7,500 restitution to Game and Fish for killing bull elks in 2005 and 2008 on the Carters’ property without an archery license. During Robinson’s probation, he’s not allowed to possess a hunting license. Carter was also banned from hunting for three years. Three others have already been sentenced in the case: Richard Carter’s sons R.C. and Mark, as well as Steven Farah, another Oregon hunter. All except Robinson pleaded guilty earlier this year to reduced charges.
R.C. Carter, an outfitter who helped organize the hunts from 2003 until 2009, was sentenced last week to five months in jail. Mark Carter, a professional snowboarder who prosecutors said played a minor role in the operation, received three years probation. Each voluntarily paid $75,000 restitution to Game and Fish. Farah was sentenced to 30 days home confinement.