November 9, 2012
From FWP.MT.gov
Several years of investigative efforts by state officials in Montana, Pennsylvania and Mississippi have resulted in six men being convicted on wildlife-related criminal charges in Phillips County Justice Court.
Through help from wardens in Mississippi and Pennsylvania and a search warrant executed on Tabb Huntley’s residence, a number of taxidermy mounts of illegally harvested mule deer and white-tailed deer were seized and Huntley and five non-resident hunters were charged, Paulsen said.
The following misdemeanor convictions and penalties were entered:
Huntley pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of a game animal and two counts of acting as outfitter or guide without a license. He paid $1,000 in fines and $3,500 in restitution and lost his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for four years.
Mark Vetula, 56, of Homer City, PA, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a game animal. He was fined $535, paid $500 in restitution and lost his privileges for two years.
Brian Szalkowski, 43, of Homer City, PA, pleaded guilty to failing to keep a legal license attached to game animal. He received a $135 fine.
Larry Cox, 55, of Lake Cormorant, MS, pleaded guilty to hunting without a valid license and unlawful possession of a deer. He paid $1,070 in fines, $500 in restitution and lost his privileges for two years.
Donald Allen, 45, of Thaxton, MS, pleaded guilty to hunting without a valid license, unlawfully possessing a deer and illegally transporting an untagged deer. He paid $1,205 in fines, $500 in restitution and lost his privileges for two years.
Bennie Randolph, 62, of Pontotoc, MS, pleaded guilty to hunting without a valid license, unlawfully possessing a deer and illegally transporting an untagged deer. He paid $1,205 in fines, $500 in restitution and lost his privileges for two years.