Darby man sentenced for wildlife poaching
by JENNY HARRIS - Ravalli Republic
A Darby man will never hunt again in Montana after being convicted Thursday of wildlife crimes spanning seven years.
Larry August was sentenced to 15 years in the Montana Department of Corrections, with all of it suspended, for three charges against him relating to unlawful possession of game or fur-bearing animals as part of a plea bargain agreement.
August, 64, was also sentenced to two terms of six months in the Ravalli County Detention Center for charges of unlawful sale of game and license and rules violations for falconry and raptors.
Ravalli County Judge James Haynes said that it seemed “August had a long-time commitment to illegally taking game animals and had no regard for Montana hunting laws, other than garnering a reputation for being a local hunting prowess.”
Last spring, after obtaining a search warrant for August’s property, law enforcement found, “numerous animal hides, skulls, claws and parts in the residence and freezers in August’s house and garage,” court papers state.
A bag of claws from 14 bears was found under August’s bedroom mattress, presumed to be taken from both adult and cub bears. There were 21 bear skulls also recovered at the residence, and a live kestrel hawk in a wire cage. The kestrel was found and turned over to a facility licensed to possess and rehabilitate raptors.
The charging papers state that in January 2007 a state agent visited August’s residence and August pulled a bear skull from the freezer and then he showed the agent the falcon in a wire cage. August said he had the bird for a couple years, although Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has no permit recorded for the bird.
The plea bargain agreement accepts August’s plea of guilty and in return, August must forfeit all firearms to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He also will never be allowed to obtain a Montana hunting, fishing or trapping license for the rest of his life.
August originally pled no contest to the three charges against him in January. The charges were unlawful possession of game or fur-bearing animals, dismissing licenses and rules for falconry and raptors and the unlawful disturbance of traps and trapped animals belonging to another.
Haynes told August his “days of hunting in Montana are over.”
Although August is no longer permitted to hunt and fish in Montana, he is allowed to hunt in other states. However, if August doesn’t abide by other state hunting regulations a petition to revoke his sentence is possible.
Reporter Jenny Harris can be reached at 363-3300 or at jharris@ravallirepublic.com
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