VINTON (AP) --- A man was convicted of 27 violations of Iowa trapping
laws, state environmental officials said.
James R. Osborn, 45, of Vinton, was convicted of 18 counts of failure
to have a name tag on snares, five counts of failing to have a deer lock
on snares, three counts of illegal possession of raccoon and one count
of illegal possession of a possum.
A Benton County judge fined him about $2,246 in fines, court costs
and liquidated damages, according to a news release from the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources.
"These violations were numerous and egregious ... ," said Benton
County Attorney David Thompson. "We went into court with a very strong
case and the convictions show it."
Thompson said Osborn was charged with 30 counts. He was convicted of
the 27 counts after nearly fours hours of testimony and presentation of
evidence, Thompson said.
Osborn will lose his trapping privileges in Iowa and 18 other states
for at least three years, the DNR said.
He has 10 days to appeal the conviction.
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