By Deborah Frazier, Rocky Mountain News
February 7, 2006
A man and a woman have pleaded guilty to hunting in Rocky Mountain
National Park, federal officials said today.
Cindy Szemenyei of Firestone and Timothy Routh of Wellington were
contacted Nov. 19 in the Endovalley area of the park. Park visitors had
told rangers about two people wearing blaze orange and carrying a rifle.
Investigators said Szemenyei said she had shot a deer and she and
Routh were tracking the animal's blood. Rangers were unable to locate a
wounded deer, but blood tests indicated Szemenyei had shot an elk, not a
deer.
"Szemenyei was certainly not trying to hide her activity," said chief
ranger Mark Magnuson. "However, hunters need to be knowledgeable of
where they are."
Szemenyei was charged with hunting in a national park and possessing
a loaded weapon. She was ordered to pay two $350 fines and forfeited a
.234 caliber rifle and a Tasco scope and a .25 semi-automatic Berretta.
Routh was fined $200 for possessing a weapon in a national park.
"This is a popular spot for visitors with picnic tables and trails,"
Magnuson said. "It is fortunate that no one was in the area when she
shot the rifle."
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