BrianID
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LAST EDITED ON Apr-14-05 AT 07:00PM (MST)[p]Here's something from the Idaho F&G website that I thought some of you might find interesting. In my opinion these guys got off to easy, but at least they were caught. I hope that Montana throws the book at them for lying threw their teeth to an officer.
Arrest Digest - Game Wardens Without Borders
By Jon Heggen, Enforcement Bureau Chief
Normally, state game wardens? authority rests inside the borders of the state that employs them. However, on December 5, 2004, an Idaho senior conservation officer found himself traveling north of Lost Trail Pass into Montana in search of three elk poachers.
Earlier in the day, two Idaho sportsmen were enjoying a day in the hills chasing mountain lions with their video camera. Above Salmon, near the Idaho/Montana border, they were stunned to witness a party of three kill an elk. Knowing the Idaho elk season had closed in that area, the witnesses turned their video camera toward the ongoing violation. After the poachers left, the witnesses contacted Idaho Fish and Game Officer Tony Latham of Salmon.
The witnesses relayed their story, providing Latham with a vehicle description and direction of travel, which was toward Wisdom, MT. Idaho Conservation Officer Latham made contact with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Warden J.D. Douglas at a check station in Darby, MT and the two began a partnership that is common with game wardens throughout the country.
Shortly afterward, the suspect vehicle entered the check station and the two game wardens began their investigation. By the time the elk had arrived at the Montana check station, Mrs. Allison Ralls had her Montana tag on the elk. She claimed this was her first elk and she had to shoot it twice with her .270. Her husband, accompanied by friend Jason Raymond, went with her on their Montana elk hunt. She was stunned to find that her Montana elk was actually shot in Idaho. Driving their pickup with the elk, Tom Ralls, Allison?s husband, confirmed that his wife shot her first elk in what he believed was Montana.
The investigation enlisted the help of Idaho Regional Conservation Officer Paul Sommerfeld and MTFWP Warden Doug Johnson of Stevensville, MT. Sommerfeld returned to the kill site and gathered valuable evidence. Johnson waited for the Ralls near their home in Stevensville. The investigation, including witness and suspect interviews in Wisdom revealed a different story.
Allison Ralls was in Wisdom when the elk was killed above Salmon. Jason Raymond of Wisdom shot the elk but did not tag it because he had tagged a Montana elk earlier in the year. Tom Ralls, Allison?s husband, assisted Raymond in the hunt and transported the elk from Idaho into Montana. A third male member of the party had a minor role in the event.
Tom Ralls and Jason Raymond were cited into Magistrate court in Salmon. Madison County Magistrate Judge Rammel heard the case and accepted guilty pleas from both Montana hunters. Tom Ralls pleaded guilty to possessing/transporting an elk taken unlawfully. Jason Raymond pleaded guilty for taking elk during a closed season. Both men received the same sentence from Judge Rammel. They served 10 of 90 days in jail. They received two years probation and their hunting privileges were revoked for two years.
Because Idaho and Montana are members of the Wildlife Violator Compact, their revocations stand in Idaho and their home state as well as the other 19 member states. Ralls was fined $750 and Raymond $1000, plus court costs. They split the $750 civil penalty, and the $87.50 elk meat processing fee. Each must return to Salmon next spring to participate in 16 hours of court labor detail, usually associated with clean-up or help on hunting/fishing access sites or the local fish hatchery. Montana charges are still pending. The third member of the party was not cited.
The case was never challenged and the court accepted guilty pleas without a trial. The witness observations and statements are unimpeachable. Their credibility and integrity was without question, for the witness behind the video camera was Magistrate Judge Jerry Meyers of Lemhi County.
Arrest Digest - Game Wardens Without Borders
By Jon Heggen, Enforcement Bureau Chief
Normally, state game wardens? authority rests inside the borders of the state that employs them. However, on December 5, 2004, an Idaho senior conservation officer found himself traveling north of Lost Trail Pass into Montana in search of three elk poachers.
Earlier in the day, two Idaho sportsmen were enjoying a day in the hills chasing mountain lions with their video camera. Above Salmon, near the Idaho/Montana border, they were stunned to witness a party of three kill an elk. Knowing the Idaho elk season had closed in that area, the witnesses turned their video camera toward the ongoing violation. After the poachers left, the witnesses contacted Idaho Fish and Game Officer Tony Latham of Salmon.
The witnesses relayed their story, providing Latham with a vehicle description and direction of travel, which was toward Wisdom, MT. Idaho Conservation Officer Latham made contact with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Warden J.D. Douglas at a check station in Darby, MT and the two began a partnership that is common with game wardens throughout the country.
Shortly afterward, the suspect vehicle entered the check station and the two game wardens began their investigation. By the time the elk had arrived at the Montana check station, Mrs. Allison Ralls had her Montana tag on the elk. She claimed this was her first elk and she had to shoot it twice with her .270. Her husband, accompanied by friend Jason Raymond, went with her on their Montana elk hunt. She was stunned to find that her Montana elk was actually shot in Idaho. Driving their pickup with the elk, Tom Ralls, Allison?s husband, confirmed that his wife shot her first elk in what he believed was Montana.
The investigation enlisted the help of Idaho Regional Conservation Officer Paul Sommerfeld and MTFWP Warden Doug Johnson of Stevensville, MT. Sommerfeld returned to the kill site and gathered valuable evidence. Johnson waited for the Ralls near their home in Stevensville. The investigation, including witness and suspect interviews in Wisdom revealed a different story.
Allison Ralls was in Wisdom when the elk was killed above Salmon. Jason Raymond of Wisdom shot the elk but did not tag it because he had tagged a Montana elk earlier in the year. Tom Ralls, Allison?s husband, assisted Raymond in the hunt and transported the elk from Idaho into Montana. A third male member of the party had a minor role in the event.
Tom Ralls and Jason Raymond were cited into Magistrate court in Salmon. Madison County Magistrate Judge Rammel heard the case and accepted guilty pleas from both Montana hunters. Tom Ralls pleaded guilty to possessing/transporting an elk taken unlawfully. Jason Raymond pleaded guilty for taking elk during a closed season. Both men received the same sentence from Judge Rammel. They served 10 of 90 days in jail. They received two years probation and their hunting privileges were revoked for two years.
Because Idaho and Montana are members of the Wildlife Violator Compact, their revocations stand in Idaho and their home state as well as the other 19 member states. Ralls was fined $750 and Raymond $1000, plus court costs. They split the $750 civil penalty, and the $87.50 elk meat processing fee. Each must return to Salmon next spring to participate in 16 hours of court labor detail, usually associated with clean-up or help on hunting/fishing access sites or the local fish hatchery. Montana charges are still pending. The third member of the party was not cited.
The case was never challenged and the court accepted guilty pleas without a trial. The witness observations and statements are unimpeachable. Their credibility and integrity was without question, for the witness behind the video camera was Magistrate Judge Jerry Meyers of Lemhi County.
