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| GIRTEN SENTENCED FOR WILDLIFE VIOLATIONS |
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JUDGE CALLS CONDUCT REPREHENSIBLE. MEDIA RELEASE David L. Huber, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, announced today that BENNIE GENE GIRTEN, JR., age 40, of 3219 E. 8th Street, Owensboro, Daviess County was sentenced in the United States District Court in Owensboro, Kentucky, for Misdemeanor Violations of the Lacey Act, Title 16, U.S. Code, Sections 3372 and 3373, making it illegal to transport illegally taken wildlife in interstate commerce. U.S. Magistrate Judge E. Robert Goebel sentenced Girten to one year sentence of imprisonment suspended on condition that Girten refrain from hunting worldwide for a period of three years. Girten was already restricted from hunting in Kentucky for previous violations. In addition, a total monetary payment of $2200 was ordered including a $1200 fine and a $1000 contribution to the Arizona Wildlife Theft Prevention fund. Girten will also pay to return the Elk Antlers and Hide to Arizona. Girten pleaded guilty on April 20, 2006 to illegally taking the Elk at Kaibab National Forest in Arizona and transporting it to Owensboro, where he illegally obtained Canadian Elk tags and attempted to have the head and antlers mounted by a taxidermist. In sentencing Girten, Goebel told Girten that his conduct in killing animals "willy nilly without regard to the law" was "reprehensible" and admonished Girten not to be back in his Court again. Two other defendants have been sentenced in the case, another defendant will plead guilty and be sentenced in Arizona and one remaining defendant is set for trial July 19, 2006. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ream, and it was investigated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources. | ||||
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