Calif. Hunter
Active member
LA Fishing Boat Captain Sentenced to 60 Days in Federal Prison
LOS ANGELES (AP) 3.04.05, 9:40a -- A charter fishing boat captain was sentenced Thursday to two months in federal prison for shooting sea lions off Santa Catalina Island.
John Gary Woodrum, 38, of Harbor City also must pay $5,000 and perform 250 hours of community service at a San Pedro marine mammal rescue center.
In a deal with prosecutors, Woodrum pleaded guilty in January to a pair of misdemeanor counts for illegally shooting marine mammals and agreed to serve 60 days in jail.
The case began when federal agents set up an undercover sting posing as fishermen and allegedly witnessed the shootings aboard the charter boat for 22nd Street Sportfishing, according to federal affidavits.
The agents work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement. The investigation was prompted by complaints from four passengers who were aboard an Oct. 13 fishing charter.
An agent said Woodrum was on the upper deck of the boat firing at a sea lion as the vessel was anchored near the west end of Catalina. About 45 minutes later, the second agent said he heard gunshots and saw what appeared to be bullets hitting sea lions as they were swimming away from the boat.
Woodrum was arrested when the boat returned to San Pedro.
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I can sure understand his frustration, as the suckers steal a lot of fish and bait right off your line! But it is still a Federal offense to shoot them.
LOS ANGELES (AP) 3.04.05, 9:40a -- A charter fishing boat captain was sentenced Thursday to two months in federal prison for shooting sea lions off Santa Catalina Island.
John Gary Woodrum, 38, of Harbor City also must pay $5,000 and perform 250 hours of community service at a San Pedro marine mammal rescue center.
In a deal with prosecutors, Woodrum pleaded guilty in January to a pair of misdemeanor counts for illegally shooting marine mammals and agreed to serve 60 days in jail.
The case began when federal agents set up an undercover sting posing as fishermen and allegedly witnessed the shootings aboard the charter boat for 22nd Street Sportfishing, according to federal affidavits.
The agents work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement. The investigation was prompted by complaints from four passengers who were aboard an Oct. 13 fishing charter.
An agent said Woodrum was on the upper deck of the boat firing at a sea lion as the vessel was anchored near the west end of Catalina. About 45 minutes later, the second agent said he heard gunshots and saw what appeared to be bullets hitting sea lions as they were swimming away from the boat.
Woodrum was arrested when the boat returned to San Pedro.
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I can sure understand his frustration, as the suckers steal a lot of fish and bait right off your line! But it is still a Federal offense to shoot them.
