Travis A. Belt, 18, and a 17-year-old juvenile were convicted April 6 of two counts of wanton destruction of a big game animal and shooting from a vehicle. They were sentenced by Campbell County Circuit Court Judge Terrill Tharp to $1,090 in fines, 45 days in jail with all but 2 days suspended, 6 months probation and revocation of hunting privileges for 6 years.

Dane M. Reid, 19, a student at Black Hills State College in Spearfish, S.D. and Kyle T. Huseth, 18, were convicted of being accessory to both wanton destruction and shooting from a vehicle. Judge Tharp sentenced them each to a $560 fine, 30-day suspended jail sentence, 6 months probation and revocation of hunting privileges for 3 years.

A 16-year-old juvenile was convicted April 14 of one count of wanton destruction of a big game animal and shooting from a vehicle and received the same sentence as Reid and Huseth. His case was handled by Campbell County Circuit Court Judge William Edwards.

The sentences administered by the judges were those recommended by the Campbell County Attorney's Office and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

South Gillette Game Warden Aaron Kerr said the case began Feb. 6 with an anonymous call to the Stop Poaching Hotline. "The caller provided detailed information about several deer and antelope that had been shot and left to rot on February 5, 2006," Kerr said. "The caller also provided information about a buck mule deer that had been illegally killed in November."

Acting on this information, Kerr was able to retrieve the 4-by-4 antlers from a buck mule deer, which had been cut off and hidden in the back of a coal haul truck parked in Wright. Kerr and Newcastle Game Warden Dustin Shorma were also able to locate two doe antelope and a doe deer carcass in the field that had been shot.

Kerr, Shorma, North Gillette Game Warden John Lund and Wildlife Investigator Scott Adell conducted interviews of the suspects and were able to piece together further details of the crime, including confirmation of two more antelope and another deer killed in the spree. Kerr said that once contacted, both the young men and their parents cooperated with the investigation. One of the high school students had already confessed to his parents before being contacted by officers.

Based on the investigation, it was found that Belt, Huseth and the 17-year-old juvenile had killed the buck deer in November and taken its antlers. On Feb. 5, Belt, Reid and both juveniles shot and killed several doe deer and antelope from their vehicles while driving on county roads east of Wright. The rifles used by the young men were .243, .223 and .22 caliber and 7.62 millimeter.

"We aren't sure how many animals were actually killed because they were shooting into herds as they saw them," said Kerr. "Unfortunately, this type of activity happens more often that we'd like to think. This time, things worked out because someone came forward and provided critical information that was needed to begin an investigation. Without the help of this informant, these poachers probably may not have been caught."

This case was similar to a crime incident that took place north of Gillette near the Powder River last fall, where several Campbell County High School students shot multiple deer and left them to waste. These deer were shot with .22 caliber rifles, at night, after the season had closed. Sentences in this case were similar to the Wright case.

"These were both very disturbing cases, and have outraged local residents, especially hunters and landowners," said Lund, who led the investigation of that case. "With the combination of suspended hunting privileges, fines, jail and probation, I am cautiously optimistic that these kids learned something, and will have a little more respect for wildlife in the future."

Anyone with information regarding wildlife violations is encouraged to contact the Stop Poaching Hotline at (800) 442-4331. Callers could be eligible for a cash reward if the information leads to a conviction and can remain anonymous.