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tUP cougar killing will result in criminal charges against three Bay County men, DNR says
Trail camera photo depicting a cougar in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in December 2013. DNR officials believe two Bay County residents illegally killed this same cougar. (Courtesy the Department of Natural Resources)
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By Cole Waterman | cwaterma@mlive.com
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on February 24, 2014 at 5:07 PM, updated February 24, 2014 at 8:36 PM
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Cougar killing in Upper Peninsula
SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY, MI — Prosecutors say they plan to bring criminal against three Bay County men who authorities say killed a cougar in the Upper Peninsula, the first such killing in more than 100 years.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lt. Skip Hagy said on the afternoon of Monday, Feb. 24, that the Schoolcraft County Prosecutor's Office is issuing charges against the three men. The men were scheduled to appear for arraignment in Schoolcraft County District Court on Wednesday, March 5, Hagy said.
Hagy did not specify what charges the men may face. Under Michigan law, illegally killing a cougar is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $2,500 fine. The names of the three men are not being disclosed until arraignment.
The Times was unable to reach Schoolcraft County Prosecutor Timothy Noble, and staff in his office said that he does not typically speak about cases with the press.
The cougar was killed in mid-December on a hunting property in northeast Schoolcraft County, the DNR previously reported. The camp is owned by at least one of the men who may be charged.
Hagy previously said that the men who killed the cougar knew what it was they were shooting. Investigators recovered some of the feline's remains.
A tipster alerted the DNR to the incident.
The DNR’s Wildlife Division has also confirmed that a trail camera in adjacent Luce County snapped a photo of a cougar on Dec. 8, just days before the killing. Investigators believe the animal in the photo is the same one killed.
Cougars, also known as pumas, catamounts or mountain lions, are classified as an endangered species in Michigan.
The DNR reports that cougars disappeared from the state in the early 1900s. The last confirmed wild cougar in Michigan prior to 2008 was an animal killed near Newberry in 1906.
Since 2008, the DNR has confirmed photos or tracks of cougars on 23 occasions in 10 Upper Peninsula counties. The animals are believed to be young individuals dispersing from established populations in the Dakotas in search of new territory. There is no evidence of a breeding population of cougars in the state.
The Bath-based Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, maintains cougars experienced a resurgence in the state in the 1950s and are present in the Lower Peninsula, even as far south as Bay County and the Thumb area. In an effort to prove this contention, they previously presented photos of cougars they claim were taken in Oscoda and Alcona counties.
The Wildlife Division’s specially trained cougar team encourages citizens to report possible cougar evidence or sightings. Cougar photos and other evidence — such as tracks, scat or cached kills — should be reported to a local DNR office or through the DNR's online reporting form at www.michigan.gov/cougars.
UP lionpoachers facing prosecution
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Emily
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Re: UP lionpoachers facing prosecution
http://abc10up.com/men-accused-illegall ... sentenced/
Two of the three men accused of killing a cougar in Schoolcraft County were sentenced Wednesday.
Troy Robert Richard, 42, was found guilty on two charges: endangered species–taking/possessing/buying/selling and conspiracy to commit endangered species–taking/possessing/buying/selling.
He will spend 30 days in the Bay County Jail, 24 months on probation, 120 hours of community service, and pay almost $6,000 in restitution, court fines, and costs. Two other charges, animals–killing/torturing and lying to a peace officer were dismissed.
Theodore Robert Richard, 68, will also spend 24 months on probation one charge of endangered species–taking/possessing/buying/selling and pay about $1,700 in fines and costs. His hunting privileges are revoked for two years.
Todd Anthony Richard, 43, pled not guilty to the endangered species charge and will hire an attorney to represent himself.
The three men are from the Lower Peninsula.
Conservation officers and other personnel from the Department of Natural Resources found evidence of the cougar’s death in December.
Two of the three men accused of killing a cougar in Schoolcraft County were sentenced Wednesday.
Troy Robert Richard, 42, was found guilty on two charges: endangered species–taking/possessing/buying/selling and conspiracy to commit endangered species–taking/possessing/buying/selling.
He will spend 30 days in the Bay County Jail, 24 months on probation, 120 hours of community service, and pay almost $6,000 in restitution, court fines, and costs. Two other charges, animals–killing/torturing and lying to a peace officer were dismissed.
Theodore Robert Richard, 68, will also spend 24 months on probation one charge of endangered species–taking/possessing/buying/selling and pay about $1,700 in fines and costs. His hunting privileges are revoked for two years.
Todd Anthony Richard, 43, pled not guilty to the endangered species charge and will hire an attorney to represent himself.
The three men are from the Lower Peninsula.
Conservation officers and other personnel from the Department of Natural Resources found evidence of the cougar’s death in December.
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Emily
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Re: suspects plead guilty
from the Midland Daily News
http://www.ourmidland.com/news/suspects ... 35b9f.html
2 suspects plead guilty in cougar poaching case
Saturday, March 8, 2014 7:00 am
By the Midland Daily News
Three suspects from Bay and Saginaw counties involved in the Dec. 9 illegal killing of a cougar appeared on March 5 in Schoolcraft County District Court where they were arraigned on warrants related to the killing. Two of the suspects pled guilty and the third entered a not guilty plea.
Troy Robert Richard, 42, of Bay City, pled guilty to the taking/possession of an endangered species and conspiracy to take an endangered species. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, a three-year revocation of all hunting privileges, $5,775 in fines, court costs and restitution including expenses to preserve the animal for educational purposes. Richard also forfeited the weapon involved in the taking of the animal and was ordered to serve 120 hours of community service.
Theodore Robert Richard, 68, of Munger, pled guilty to aiding and abetting the illegal taking/possession of an endangered species and paid $1,725 in fines and costs, had all hunting privileges revoked for a period of two years and received 96 hours of community service.
Todd Anthony Richard, 43, of Burt, pled not guilty to conspiracy to take/possess an endangered species. He owns and operates a taxidermy business in Bay County and is a brother to Troy Richard.
The crime occurred at the Richards’ hunting camp in Germfask Township near Seney in Schoolcraft County on Dec. 9, 2013. The investigation revealed the animal was shot from the subjects’ camp when it walked into a deer food plot and drove the deer out while the subjects were muzzleloader hunting for deer. The animal was wounded by Troy Richard with a centerfire 22-250 caliber rifle and it then fled the food plot. It was tracked and located approximately one-quarter mile away the following day and killed.
The investigation also revealed Troy and Theodore Richard then brought the animal back to their camp where they field dressed it and hid it. They proceeded to cook and eat part of the heart. They left for their homes in Bay County shortly after, with the animal intact but field dressed in the back of Troy Richard’s pickup truck. Troy Richard reported that he struck a deer with his truck after leaving the camp. He picked up the deer, put it in a trailer with other deer they had killed and transported it to the Michigan State Police post in St. Ignace where he obtained a permit for the roadkill deer all the while having the cougar in the truck’s bed under a tonneau cover so that it could be hidden from view.
DNR investigating officers noted that Richard had ample opportunity to report the cougar killing at this point, but failed to do so.
Troy Richard returned to his residence with the cougar where the animal was skinned and prepared for mounting. The skull was also boiled and preserved; the remains of the carcass were disposed of.
When the Richards learned that Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers knew about the poaching, they attempted to hide the evidence at another location. During the investigation, the Richards gave many false statements and had officers searching several areas in the U.P. where they claimed to have disposed of the entire cougar and repeatedly denied that they took the animal home with them.
The cougar hide, which had been prepared for mounting, and the skull were eventually recovered, and the entrails of the adult male cougar were also found at the Richards’ camp. The suspects ultimately admitted the crime and related it as one-of opportunity — a once-in-a-lifetime chance to kill a cougar in Michigan and have it mounted. Cougars are on the Michigan endangered species list and are a protected animal that may not be hunted.
Anyone with information on any other poaching case may call the DNR’s Report All Poaching (RAP) Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-292-7800. Information can be left anonymously. Information can also be provided online at www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers. Information leading to an arrest and conviction is eligible for a cash reward funded by the Game and Fish Protection Fund.
http://www.ourmidland.com/news/suspects ... 35b9f.html
2 suspects plead guilty in cougar poaching case
Saturday, March 8, 2014 7:00 am
By the Midland Daily News
Three suspects from Bay and Saginaw counties involved in the Dec. 9 illegal killing of a cougar appeared on March 5 in Schoolcraft County District Court where they were arraigned on warrants related to the killing. Two of the suspects pled guilty and the third entered a not guilty plea.
Troy Robert Richard, 42, of Bay City, pled guilty to the taking/possession of an endangered species and conspiracy to take an endangered species. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, a three-year revocation of all hunting privileges, $5,775 in fines, court costs and restitution including expenses to preserve the animal for educational purposes. Richard also forfeited the weapon involved in the taking of the animal and was ordered to serve 120 hours of community service.
Theodore Robert Richard, 68, of Munger, pled guilty to aiding and abetting the illegal taking/possession of an endangered species and paid $1,725 in fines and costs, had all hunting privileges revoked for a period of two years and received 96 hours of community service.
Todd Anthony Richard, 43, of Burt, pled not guilty to conspiracy to take/possess an endangered species. He owns and operates a taxidermy business in Bay County and is a brother to Troy Richard.
The crime occurred at the Richards’ hunting camp in Germfask Township near Seney in Schoolcraft County on Dec. 9, 2013. The investigation revealed the animal was shot from the subjects’ camp when it walked into a deer food plot and drove the deer out while the subjects were muzzleloader hunting for deer. The animal was wounded by Troy Richard with a centerfire 22-250 caliber rifle and it then fled the food plot. It was tracked and located approximately one-quarter mile away the following day and killed.
The investigation also revealed Troy and Theodore Richard then brought the animal back to their camp where they field dressed it and hid it. They proceeded to cook and eat part of the heart. They left for their homes in Bay County shortly after, with the animal intact but field dressed in the back of Troy Richard’s pickup truck. Troy Richard reported that he struck a deer with his truck after leaving the camp. He picked up the deer, put it in a trailer with other deer they had killed and transported it to the Michigan State Police post in St. Ignace where he obtained a permit for the roadkill deer all the while having the cougar in the truck’s bed under a tonneau cover so that it could be hidden from view.
DNR investigating officers noted that Richard had ample opportunity to report the cougar killing at this point, but failed to do so.
Troy Richard returned to his residence with the cougar where the animal was skinned and prepared for mounting. The skull was also boiled and preserved; the remains of the carcass were disposed of.
When the Richards learned that Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers knew about the poaching, they attempted to hide the evidence at another location. During the investigation, the Richards gave many false statements and had officers searching several areas in the U.P. where they claimed to have disposed of the entire cougar and repeatedly denied that they took the animal home with them.
The cougar hide, which had been prepared for mounting, and the skull were eventually recovered, and the entrails of the adult male cougar were also found at the Richards’ camp. The suspects ultimately admitted the crime and related it as one-of opportunity — a once-in-a-lifetime chance to kill a cougar in Michigan and have it mounted. Cougars are on the Michigan endangered species list and are a protected animal that may not be hunted.
Anyone with information on any other poaching case may call the DNR’s Report All Poaching (RAP) Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-292-7800. Information can be left anonymously. Information can also be provided online at www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers. Information leading to an arrest and conviction is eligible for a cash reward funded by the Game and Fish Protection Fund.
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Emily
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Re: UP lionpoachers facing prosecution
http://woodtv.com/2014/04/08/man-pleads ... hing-case/
MANISTIQUE, Mich. (AP) — A man charged in a cougar poaching case in the Upper Peninsula has pleaded to a lesser charge and been sentenced to community service and fines.
WLUC-TV reports Todd Richard pleaded no contest in Manistique District Court on Monday to taking, possessing, buying or selling an endangered animal. The 44-year-old Burt resident was sentenced to 24 hours of community service and $625 in fines.
Richard’s father, Theodore, and his brother, Troy, pleaded guilty in the case a month ago.
State wildlife officials say the cougar posed no threat and was poached by the men in December.
Troy Richard says he shot the big cat because it approached his father and wouldn’t flee when he yelled at it
MANISTIQUE, Mich. (AP) — A man charged in a cougar poaching case in the Upper Peninsula has pleaded to a lesser charge and been sentenced to community service and fines.
WLUC-TV reports Todd Richard pleaded no contest in Manistique District Court on Monday to taking, possessing, buying or selling an endangered animal. The 44-year-old Burt resident was sentenced to 24 hours of community service and $625 in fines.
Richard’s father, Theodore, and his brother, Troy, pleaded guilty in the case a month ago.
State wildlife officials say the cougar posed no threat and was poached by the men in December.
Troy Richard says he shot the big cat because it approached his father and wouldn’t flee when he yelled at it
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