Article Last Updated: 6/16/2006 01:01 AM
The Associated Press
Salt Lake Tribune
POCATELLO, Idaho - A Utah man who killed four deer has been sentenced
to 16 years of probation, received a $9,660 fine and had his hunting,
fishing and trapping privileges revoked for life in Idaho as well as 20
other states.
Tyler Trujillo, 21, of Layton, Utah, also received a 240-day jail
sentence that was suspended, along with $3,200 of his fine if he
successfully completes his probation.
Trujillo pleaded guilty in May to four counts of killing deer out of
season and four counts of waste. He was sentenced Tuesday by Magistrate
Rick Carnaroli in 6th District Court.
''In my opinion it's a fairly significant sentence,'' Tom Lucia, a
Fish and Game regional conservation officer and one of the investigators
who responded, told the Idaho State Journal. ''It should send a fairly
clear message that this kind of behavior is not acceptable to the public
and judicial system as well.''
Because the incident was deemed a flagrant violation, Trujillo lost
his hunting and fishing privileges for life in the 21 states under the
Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Trujillo used a spotlight about 2:40 a.m. on March 25 to shoot two
pregnant does, one bearing triplets, and two yearling bucks that were
feeding about 200 yards from the home of Larry Bull of Inkom. Bull
leaves feed in the field to attract deer, and the field has become a
popular place for people to take children and view wildlife.
''The judge had a really difficult time understanding what motivated
him to do this,'' said Lucia. ''It seemed to him, and to me as well,
that there was just no logic, and it was totally and completely
senseless.''
A reward of $5,500 pledged by sportsmen and businessman led to
Trujillo.
''It just kind of showed the outrage by the local community for such
a thing,'' Lucia said. ''Neither the defendant nor his attorney tried to
make excuses. I thought that was commendable. Every bit [of the
sentence] was appropriate.''
