August 21, 2015
From 9News.com
Robert Johnson, 55, his wife and three others trespassed onto the Devil’s Thumb Ranch and an adjacent property in September 2014, killing the elk in an illegal hunt.
Johnson was found guilty of one count of hunting without permission, one count of third-degree criminal trespass and one count of illegal possession of wildlife with an additional penalty for killing the elk, and will have to pay $11,653.50 in fines and court costs and perform 50 hours of community service.
Johnson’s wife, Melissa Johnson, 42; Boden Jump, 49; and the Johnson’s two guests, Rylan Everett, 26 and Abe Pierson, 36, all received fines.
Everett pleaded guilty to without deferment to hunting without permission and will have to pay a fine of $377.50, contribute $500 to Operation Game Thief, and perform 100 hours of community service.
Melissa Johnson paid $258.50 in fines and court costs. Jump paid $199.50 in fines and court costs.
Pierson pleaded guilty to hunting out of season and must pay $500 to Operation Game Thief, perform 50 hours of community service and pay a fine of $229.50. Everett, Pierson and Jump also agreed to testify truthfully during Johnson’s trial.