SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Thursday, June 25 that Ricky Osborn was sentenced by Judge Rafael Vazquez after pleading guilty to crimes arising out of the poaching of a trophy bull elk. Mr. Osborn was placed on probation for three years, was ordered to pay $23,045, to stay away from the Big Sandy Wildlife Area, to complete a hunter’s safety course, to forfeit his firearms, is banned from owning firearms for the next ten years, is banned from hunting for three years, and will be required to submit to searches by law enforcement without a warrant or probable cause.
On December 11, 2019, Ricky Osborn was hunting with two co-defendants on private property and in the Big Sandy Wildlife Area near the town of Bradley. Mr. Osborn killed a 3 to 5 year old trophy bull elk in the winter, outside of an established hunting season. He was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2010 misdemeanor conviction. He was hunting without a license, was trespassing, was using lead ammunition in an area where such use is prohibited to protect the endangered California Condor, and after taking the meat that he wanted he left the carcass to rot, wasting most of the animal. He plead guilty to a charge for each of those crimes, as well as a trophy elk enhancement.
An elk is classified as a trophy elk when it has six points on each side of its antlers. A trophy animal that is taken by illegal means carries a multiplier on penalties in California. Elk are out of season in the winter because they are extra vulnerable. They undergo huge amounts of stress during the rut season and, subsequently, being chased by hunters during the legal rifle seasons of the fall. During the winter, many succumb to natural causes because of their weakened condition. Therefore, they are protected during the winter months when they need to recover if they are to survive.
This case was investigated by Warden Hank Hodel of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Comments
Post a Comment