BigHornRam
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Alleged big horn sheep poacher caught, charged
by LUELLA N. BRIEN - Ravalli Republic
A man accused of shooting a big horn sheep ewe on May 20 and his girlfriend appeared in Ravalli County Justice court Friday on numerous felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the shooting.
Justin Dean Hadley was charged with unlawful possession of game animal and birds, and tampering with physical evidence, both felonies, two counts of hunting a game animal during a closed season, waste of a game animal, unlawful shooting from roadway, hunting a game bird without a license and obstructing a peace officer, all misdemeanors.
Justice of the Peace Robin Clute set his bail at $100,000. Hadley is also facing a no-bail warrant out of Powell County for allegedly escaping from the Montana Department of Corrections Prerelease Center.
Bonnie Ilama Morris, of Hamilton, was charged with two counts of obstructing justice, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia, all felonies, and unlawful possession of moose, sheep, bear, goat or bison, unlawful hunting of a large game animal during closed season, waste or abandonment of a large game animal, possession of unlawfully killed parts or unlawfully taken game bird or fish, and unlawful possession, sale, or transportation of a game bird or fish, all misdemeanors.
Clute set her bail at $40,000 for the felony charges and $2,275 for the misdemeanors.
Morris pleaded not guilty to the five misdemeanor charges. An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Aug. 17 in justice court.
Court records indicate that Hadley shot a big horn sheep ewe on the East Fork Road in Sula on May 20.
Shortly after the shooting, a witness encountered Hadley and Morris. According to court documents, Morris told the witness that her boyfriend had just shot a big horn sheep and they abandoned it.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant to search the Morris home, but Hadley fled with the rifle used in the poaching, a digital camera and a video recorder, records stated.
Documents indicate that the search turned up a whitetail deer, cut and wrapped in the freezer, a freshly killed wild turkey hen, a live wild turkey chick, and various drug paraphernalia.
Court documents also stated that Morris told police that she dropped Hadley off at Alvista Loop and Bowman Road. A witness told officers that Morris dropped Hadley off at Mill Creek Trailhead. Officers searched the area for three hours after spotting Hadley there, but were not able to locate him.
Later they arrested Hadley and Morris after they found them driving away from Morris' apartment in another person's car.
Both are scheduled to appear in District Court next month.
by LUELLA N. BRIEN - Ravalli Republic
A man accused of shooting a big horn sheep ewe on May 20 and his girlfriend appeared in Ravalli County Justice court Friday on numerous felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the shooting.
Justin Dean Hadley was charged with unlawful possession of game animal and birds, and tampering with physical evidence, both felonies, two counts of hunting a game animal during a closed season, waste of a game animal, unlawful shooting from roadway, hunting a game bird without a license and obstructing a peace officer, all misdemeanors.
Justice of the Peace Robin Clute set his bail at $100,000. Hadley is also facing a no-bail warrant out of Powell County for allegedly escaping from the Montana Department of Corrections Prerelease Center.
Bonnie Ilama Morris, of Hamilton, was charged with two counts of obstructing justice, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia, all felonies, and unlawful possession of moose, sheep, bear, goat or bison, unlawful hunting of a large game animal during closed season, waste or abandonment of a large game animal, possession of unlawfully killed parts or unlawfully taken game bird or fish, and unlawful possession, sale, or transportation of a game bird or fish, all misdemeanors.
Clute set her bail at $40,000 for the felony charges and $2,275 for the misdemeanors.
Morris pleaded not guilty to the five misdemeanor charges. An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Aug. 17 in justice court.
Court records indicate that Hadley shot a big horn sheep ewe on the East Fork Road in Sula on May 20.
Shortly after the shooting, a witness encountered Hadley and Morris. According to court documents, Morris told the witness that her boyfriend had just shot a big horn sheep and they abandoned it.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant to search the Morris home, but Hadley fled with the rifle used in the poaching, a digital camera and a video recorder, records stated.
Documents indicate that the search turned up a whitetail deer, cut and wrapped in the freezer, a freshly killed wild turkey hen, a live wild turkey chick, and various drug paraphernalia.
Court documents also stated that Morris told police that she dropped Hadley off at Alvista Loop and Bowman Road. A witness told officers that Morris dropped Hadley off at Mill Creek Trailhead. Officers searched the area for three hours after spotting Hadley there, but were not able to locate him.
Later they arrested Hadley and Morris after they found them driving away from Morris' apartment in another person's car.
Both are scheduled to appear in District Court next month.
