Image courtesy of Mike Hutmacher/The Wichita Eagle
June 22, 2011
By North American Whitetail Online Staff
Michael Pearce of the Wichita Eagle is reporting that James Butler Jr. (age 42), who operated Camp Lone Star in Comanche County, was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $50,000 in fines and restitution in a U.S. District Court in Wichita, KS this past Tuesday for what's being called one of the largest trophy deer poaching case in U.S. History.
The
Eagle reports about 60 clients or staff of Butler's operation illegally shot 110 trophy deer between 2005 and 2008.
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The stomach-turning investigation revealed the operation poached deer with rifles during archery season, killed deer without tags and in wrong units, spotlighted trophy bucks, and used night-vision scopes on rifles.
The Butler's charged between $2,500 and $5,500 for hunts.
Marlin Butler, James' brother, faces sentencing on Friday.
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"Illegal wildlife trafficking is a threat to the natural resources of Kansas. Our goal is to preserve and protect wildlife for everyone to enjoy — including hunters who abide by the law," said Barry Grissom, U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas.
At least 100 mounts were on display at the press conference held at the Great Plains Nature Center after the sentencing. You can view photo gallery from the Wichita Eagle of the mounts by clicking here.
Click HERE Wichita Eagle.
