Two Dallas, Oregon men agreed to plea bargains in elk poaching investigations.
David Bruce Maxfield Jr. (age 26) of Dallas entered a guilty plea in the Benton County Circuit Court to one count of Taking, Angling, Hunting, or Trapping in Violation of Wildlife Law or Rule as a Class A Misdemeanor. Allen Craige Boal (age 26) of Dallas entered a no contest plea in Benton County Circuit Court to one count of Taking, Angling, Hunting, or Trapping in Violation of Wildlife Law or Rule as a Class A Misdemeanor. Additional wildlife offenses were dismissed as part of the plea bargain.
Subject to the plea deal Maxfield was sentenced to:
-12 months of Bench Probation
-Perform 40 hours of community service
-Forfeit all wildlife seized during investigation
-Forfeit weapon seized during investigation
-Pay $7,600 in fines, fees, and restitution
-Hunting privileges suspended for a period of 3 years
Subject to the plea deal Boal was sentenced to:
-12 months of Bench Probation
-Perform 40 hours of community service
-Pay $7,600 in fines, fees, and restitution
-Hunting privileges suspended for a period of 3 years
The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division Mid-Valley Team which concluded both subjects engaged in the unlawful take of a trophy 6x6 bull elk in the Kings Valley area of Benton County. The bull elk was killed by Maxfield and neither subject possessed the proper tag. The subjects left the bull elk to waste, only recovering its head/antlers. As a result of the investigation the trophy class bull elk and Maxfield's bow were seized. Boal had a previous wildlife offense conviction.
A violation of any provision of the wildlife laws (such as the unlawful take of deer), or any rule adopted pursuant to the wildlife laws, is a Class A misdemeanor if the offense is committed with a culpable mental state in Oregon. If convicted, a person can be charged with the maximum penalty of $6250, have their hunting privileges suspended and forfeit weapons or other items used in the commission of the crime(s).
The Oregon Hunters Association offers rewards to persons, through their T.I.P. fund, for information leading to the issuance of a citation to a person(s), or an arrest made of a person(s) for illegal possession, killing, or taking of bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose, elk, deer, antelope, bear, cougar, wolf, fur-bearers and/or upland game birds and water fowl. T.I.P. rewards can also be paid for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of game fish, and/or shell fish, and for the destruction of habitat.
In addition rewards may be paid for information leading to the issuance of a citation to a person(s), or an arrest made of a person(s) who have illegally obtained Oregon hunting/angling license or tags. People who "work" the system and falsely apply for resident license or tags are not legally hunting or angling and are considered poachers.
Rewards:
Bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose $1,000
Elk, deer, antelope $500
Bear, cougar, wolf $300
Habitat destruction $300
Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags $200
Game fish, shell fish $100
Upland birds, waterfowl $100
Fur-bearers $100