Guilty plea in Jaguar killing

[big_load]

I was alerted to this by new HAZ member, red dog, who (like me) has been poring through the transcripts of the AGFD investigation into the Macho B killing.

Form the Citizen.com (Tucson) http://tucsoncitizen.com/hot-off-the-pr ... releasese/

TUCSON, Ariz – Emil McCain, 31, of Patagonia, Arizona, pleaded guilty to a prohibited take of an endangered species, namely the jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Macho B, in federal district court in Tucson. McCain was sentenced by United States Magistrate Judge Bernardo P. Velasco to five years of probation with the condition that he is not permitted to be employed or in any way involved in any large cat or large carnivore project or study in the United States during the five year probation term. McCain was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,000.

“One of the state officials employed to protect our endangered wildlife instead endangered this same wildlife. The community was rightfully outraged. Public trust had been broken,” said United States Attorney Dennis K. Burke. “This office takes its responsibility to enforce federal species laws seriously and will robustly enforce these protections.

“Our investigation cannot compensate for the loss of this animal,” said Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Chavez, who oversees Service law enforcement operations in the Southwest. “However, our work substantiates the Service’s resolve to safeguard endangered species and bring to justice those who ignore protections for America’s treasured wildlife.”

Emil McCain, had been charged with a violation of the Endangered Species Act. McCain admitted to placing jaguar scat and directing a female person to place jaguar scat at snare sites that were authorized to snare only mountain lions and bears in the Atascosa Mountains near Ruby, Arizona. The jaguar scat was placed on February 4, 2009, in an attempt to lure the jaguar known as Macho B into a snare. McCain had knowledge that Macho B had been recently photographed in the area of the snares. McCain did not have legal authorization to conduct an intentional snare of a jaguar. On February 18, 2009, Macho B was captured in a snare where jaguar scat was placed.

A conviction for a Prohibited Take of an endangered species carries a maximum penalty of 1 year in prison, a $100,000 fine or both.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The prosecution is being handled by Ryan P. DeJoe, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

[azbackpackr]

So did he really do it on his own, with no knowledge of G&F officials, or is he just the fall guy? I get the G&F e-news and it seems they have been scrambling to do damage control.

[Jeffshadows]

That's all they are going to do to a guy that immediately took a picture of himself over the body like it was a trophy hunt and posted it on Facebook?

[big_load]

so did he really do it on his own, with no knowledge of G&F officials, or is he just the fall guy? I get the G&F e-news and it seems they have been scrambling to do damage control.

If his testimony, Terry Johnson claims that Director Voyles explicitly ordered on the preceding Dec. 7 that no attempt be made to snare Macho B because they knew he was old and at risk of not surviving even being trapped once, let alone twice. Who can say whether this is true, but I'm sure that Johnson's attendance at a meeting with Voyles can be documented on that date. It is not clear how well this order filtered down, and all the testimony hasn't been publicly released. Thorry Smith, the AGFD employee who worked most closely with McCain, appears to have been also significantly responsible for the capture and impeding its investigation (see more below). He not only lied to the feds, but was also less than forthcoming in much of his immunized testimony. Although he wasn't in the formal chain of command, an analysis of the transcripts suggests that investigators strongly suspect Ron Thompson of more direct involvement than he admits in his testimony. Thompson advocated McCain's hiring despite prior knowledge of his being fired from wildlife projects elsewhere and some game violations in Montana. McCain communicated directly with him on several occasions regarding plans for Macho B. In summary, it seems likely that at least and maybe two higher-ups will eventually lose their jobs because of this, and one of them may have had direct involvement with McCain. The remaining transcripts will trickle out over the course of months, and key parts (especially regarding McCain) are heavily redacted.

That's all they are going to do to a guy that immediately took a picture of himself over the body like it was a trophy hunt and posted it on Facebook?

Actually, that guy probably isn't McCain. I believe it's Thorry Smith, who was fired. It's unclear whether he'll face criminal charges, although he admits in his immunized testimony that he lied to the feds and conspired with McCain to cover up the fact that McCain ordered Brun to bait the traps with jaguar scat. One of the more interesting redacted portions of Smith's testimony is his response to the question of whether he was taking the blame to protect someone. He had already squealed on McCain, so there's got to be another shoe waiting to drop.

[azbackpackr]

Oh, the plot thickens!

[Jeffshadows]

You're right; I think I mixed the two of them up. Do you know if he was prosecuted, as well?

[big_load]

Do you know if he was prosecuted, as well?

No charges yet, but they're not done.

Oh, the plot thickens!

There is an explosive revelation in Johnson's testimony that has somehow escaped widespread publication: McCain killed two other jaguars while working on a study in Mexico. Both apparently didn't survive being snared or sedated. What's more, he tried to cover it up by defacing the bodies and burying them. According to Johnson, Ron Thompson was somehow involved in that study and therefore knew of the killings, but he never mentions them in explaining why he recommended McCain for this work or when he expresses disappointment regarding what this has done to McCain's career. However, it was apparently known to at least some of the other players, including the comparatively senior Johnson. This lends plausibility to Johnson's claim about Voyles' direction. They knew Macho B was old and they knew McCain had a bad track record with jaguar sedation.

[chumley]

Interesting article in the paper about Macho B today. Quite a mess.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... stery.html

[outdoor_lover]

Quite a mess.

No lie, geez.....

[big_load]

They've done an excellent job of keeping consequences limited to the lowest-ranking people involved. Some AGFD managers got off very easy. I can't believe Johnson is still getting taxpayer money as a consultant in this area.

[cactuscat]

I have a picture of Macho B on my fridge ... have since the incident happened. RIP.

[kingsnake]

They've done an excellent job of keeping consequences limited to the lowest-ranking people involved. Some AGFD managers got off very easy. I can't believe Johnson is still getting taxpayer money as a consultant in this area.

That's the unfortunate way of the world: Snuffy takes a dive, while the fat cats really responsible skate ...