Guilty plea in Jaguar killing
Posted: May 17 2010 7:42 pm
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.
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.
