SPECIAL TO THE DAILY
Summit Daily News
July 4, 2005
A husband and wife in Montrose County recently pleaded guilty to
defrauding the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and will be required
to pay more than $11,000 in fines. They also could lose hunting and
fishing privileges in Colorado and 18 other states.
Robert M. Sunn, 30, and Amy Sunn, 29, both of Olathe, were found to
have obtained elk-hunting licenses using false information. The
convictions both resulted from an investigation that started after the
DOW received an anonymous tip that Robert Sunn held two licenses for the
2003 deer-hunting season.
On June 13 in the 7th Judicial District court in Montrose, he pleaded
guilty to one count of felony forgery of a government-issued document
and 26 misdemeanors related to falsifying documents. Originally, he was
charged with 21 felony and 26 misdemeaonr charges. Sunn was ordered to
pay a $7,000 fine to the state and $3,000 to the Operation Game Thief
program. The DOW also requested that he be imprisoned for at least 60
days. A sentencing hearing in August will determine if Sunn will be
required to serve any jail time.
Sunn also has been assessed more than 200 suspension points by the
DOW, which will be applied against his hunting and fishing privileges.
Anyone who accumulates 20 points in a five-year period can lose their
hunting privileges for a year or more. A hearing with the DOW regarding
his hunting privileges hasn't been scheduled. Any suspension will
automatically be applied in the 18 other states that participate in a
special wildlife-crimes compact with Colorado.
Mrs. Sunn pleaded guilty on May 31 to hunting without a valid and
proper license, a misdemeanor. She was fined $1,342 and was assessed 15
suspension points.
"Mr. Sunn developed some very sophisticated schemes that enabled them
to purchase multiple licenses," said Bill de Vergie, area wildlife
manager for the DOW in Montrose and lead investigator on the case. "We
were able to catch them through the use of sophisticated database
technology that allows us to cross-reference a variety of licensing data
and public records."
...
"It's one of the most complicated cases of license fraud we've ever
seen," de Vergie said. "And we couldn't have tracked this without a tip
from the public."
People who have information concerning wildlife violations are asked
to call Operation Game Thief at 1-877-265-6648. Tips can be given
anonymously and rewards are offered.
