Submitted by SA Kabasa

On January 24, 2006 Troy GLAUSER of Syracuse, Utah plead guilty to a misdemeanor Lacey Act charge involving an illegally transported bear in District of Idaho. Glauser was sentenced to 8 days in jail, 3 years hunting revocation and $3000 in restitution paid to the Idaho Fish and Game.

On May 1, 2004 GLAUSER killed a bear in Idaho without a tag.  GLAUSER had a friend, John BALDERSON of Council, Idaho, use his resident tag, and register to register the bear with the Fish and game.  The bear’s hide/skull was then transported by GLAUSER to Wilderness Taxidermy in Syracuse, Utah.  The bear hide was then shipped to a tannery in California where it was intercepted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in transit.      

GLAUSER had a previous conviction in the District of Utah for another Lacey Act violation involving the illegal take of a wolf in Idaho.  GLAUSER was uncooperative when approached regarding the shooting of the bear. Investigation into BALSERDON’S past hunting activity showed no signs of hunting for bear, and according to close friends of BALDERSON, he would not shoot a bear.  BALDERSON was later confirmed to be at a rodeo in Riggins, Idaho on May 1st in pictures taken by a professional photographer.  BALDERSON was in the rodeo stands and near the chutes waiting for his kids to ride.

BALDERSON plead guilty in Idaho state court to transferring a tag to another.  Part of the plea agreement was truthful testimony in grand jury on his involvement with tagging the bear.  BALDERSON’S sentence also included 5 months hunting revocation and a $400 fine.