23-04-2006, 10:07 AM
Nevada’s First Felony Conviction for Deer Poaching
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) has won its first felony conviction of a big game poacher. A California hunter who illegally shot a buck mule deer in October 2004 was convicted last month of a felony in connection with poaching a big game animal in Nevada.
Dominic Rigoli, of Monterey Park, California, was sentenced in Seventh District Judicial Court in Lincoln County on March 24 for taking a big game animal during a closed season. Rigoli did not have a Nevada deer tag and there was no deer season in progress when he shot the deer.
Rigoli's and three other such convictions were the result of a multi-year undercover investigation that involved California hunters with Utah tags who were hunting in neighboring Nevada. Rigoli shot his deer in Nevada and then attached a Utah hunting tag to the animal. Chief Game Warden with NDOW, Rob Buonamici, said Rigoli knew he was hunting in Nevada, and that because NDOW was able to show intent it made the act a felony.
Rigoli is currently serving a 90-day jail sentence at the Lincoln County Detention Center. He will pay $500 in criminal fines, a $5,000 civil penalty that will go to Nevada's Operation Game Thief program, 50 hours of community service and loss of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for three years. A prison sentence of 12 to 32 months was suspended.
Three years ago the Nevada Legislature passed legislation that makes poaching a big game animal a felony, under certain circumstances. Prior to that, the most severe charge that a big game poacher faced was a gross misdemeanor.
thehuntingreport
Mvh
Kim
Jeg er ikke fejlfri,men det er så tæt på at det skræmmer mig.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) has won its first felony conviction of a big game poacher. A California hunter who illegally shot a buck mule deer in October 2004 was convicted last month of a felony in connection with poaching a big game animal in Nevada.
Dominic Rigoli, of Monterey Park, California, was sentenced in Seventh District Judicial Court in Lincoln County on March 24 for taking a big game animal during a closed season. Rigoli did not have a Nevada deer tag and there was no deer season in progress when he shot the deer.
Rigoli's and three other such convictions were the result of a multi-year undercover investigation that involved California hunters with Utah tags who were hunting in neighboring Nevada. Rigoli shot his deer in Nevada and then attached a Utah hunting tag to the animal. Chief Game Warden with NDOW, Rob Buonamici, said Rigoli knew he was hunting in Nevada, and that because NDOW was able to show intent it made the act a felony.
Rigoli is currently serving a 90-day jail sentence at the Lincoln County Detention Center. He will pay $500 in criminal fines, a $5,000 civil penalty that will go to Nevada's Operation Game Thief program, 50 hours of community service and loss of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for three years. A prison sentence of 12 to 32 months was suspended.
Three years ago the Nevada Legislature passed legislation that makes poaching a big game animal a felony, under certain circumstances. Prior to that, the most severe charge that a big game poacher faced was a gross misdemeanor.
thehuntingreport
Mvh
Kim
Jeg er ikke fejlfri,men det er så tæt på at det skræmmer mig.