February 9, 2012
From MagicValley.com
CHALLIS – Two Hailey men have received stiff penalties and fines after being caught poaching in Custer County, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game announced Wednesday. A total of 49 citations and 21 warnings were issued to seven individuals Monday by Custer County Magistrate Judge Charles L. Roos.
Juan Pasillas-Garcia, 44, of Hailey, was sentenced to 540 days in jail, but all but 40 were suspended. He also must pay $3,262 in fines and fees and his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges were suspended for 15 years. In addition he forfeited two firearms to Fish and Game and was put on four years probation.
Jose Pasillas-Garcia, 30, of Hailey, pleaded guilty to failing to produce game for inspection. He was given a 30-day suspended jail sentence and fined $570. In addition, he was put on two years probation and will be required to complete 40 hours of community service.
In the same case two Phoenix, Ariz., men — Sergio Pasillas-Garcia, 39, and Bernardo Amaya, 38 — were each sentenced to serve 40 days in jail, received thousands of dollars in fines and lost hunting privileges. Martin Pasillas-Garcia, 45, of Torrence, Calif., was sentenced to 900 days in jail with all but 80 days suspended and must pay more than $8,500 in fines. He also lost hunting privileges for 30 years.
The men were caught after Fish and Game Regional Investigator Ryan Hilton hid in the brush at the Yankee Fork drainage area for nine hours after he watched two hunters leave their truck and hike up the mountain.
“It was a long, cold day, but by being out there I was able to hear the shots that we later confirmed illegally killed a six-point bull elk closed season and also took video of them loading an illegal deer into their truck,” Hilton said in a statement released by Fish and Game.
Fish and Game reports their investigators worked around the clock to catch the poachers, who have been hunting illegally in Idaho for years.