CA: Hunting violation arrests made

Hunting violation arrests made

By GREG WELTER -Staff Writer
Posted: 07/03/2009 12:00:00 AM PDT

WILLOWS - Three people have been arrested on suspicion of hunting violations that allegedly took place near Elk Creek on May 26.

Department of Fish and Game Lt. Sam Castillo said Cody Layne Gregory, Derek Holmes, 21, and Whitney Word, 21, all from Elk Creek, were observed using spotlights to hunt game from all-terrain vehicles at night.

Castillo said a game warden witnessed the violations and none of the suspects had game with them when they were detained. The only game legal to be taken in May would have been wild pigs, which have no season.

Lane was taken into custody last week on a warrant for the hunting violation. Holmes and Word reportedly turned themselves in on the misdemeanor warrants Wednesday morning at the Glenn County Jail in Willows.

Holmes was a passenger in a pickup that crashed near Elk Creek Nov. 19, 2007, leading to the death of another male passenger, David Alexander, a few days later.

Holmes and a female passenger, Gretchen Sill, initially told California Highway Patrol investigators that Alexander, who was ejected from the vehicle, had been driving. They later recanted their story, and identified Levi Gleason, 23, as the driver.

Gleason was eventually arrested and charged with felony drunk driving and gross vehicular manslaughter.

His trial in Glenn County Superior Court is Nov. 16.

Holmes and Sill weren't charged in connection with giving false testimony. Word's bail in the alleged hunting violation case was set at $2,000. Holmes' bail included alleged probation violations and was set at $16,000.

Castillo said conviction on the hunting charges is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or up to 6 months in jail.

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