June 13, 2012
By Jeremy Pelzer, Trib.com
CHEYENNE—A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a Ten Sleep
rancher and an Oregon hunter to probation and tens of thousands of
dollars in fines and restitution, bringing an apparent end to one of
Wyoming’s largest illegal hunting cases in years.
Four others have already pleaded guilty in the case, in which
several out-of-state hunters paid thousands each to shoot animals on
the Carter family’s ranch, illegally use the family’s landowner tags
on the animals, and take them back home. Richard Carter Sr. was
sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal on Wednesday to
four years of supervised probation for helping with the scheme and
allowing other hunters to use his landowner tags. Carter also
received a $5,000 fine and has voluntarily paid $10,000 in
restitution to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Freudenthal also sentenced Oregon hunter Matt Robinson to two
years probation, a $2,500 fine and $7,500 restitution to Game and
Fish for killing bull elks in 2005 and 2008 on the Carters’ property
without an archery license. During Robinson’s probation, he’s not
allowed to possess a hunting license. Carter was also banned from
hunting for three years. Three others have already been sentenced
in the case: Richard Carter’s sons R.C. and Mark, as well as Steven
Farah, another Oregon hunter. All except Robinson pleaded guilty
earlier this year to reduced charges.
R.C. Carter, an outfitter who helped organize the hunts from 2003
until 2009, was sentenced last week to five months in jail. Mark
Carter, a professional snowboarder who prosecutors said played a
minor role in the operation, received three years probation. Each
voluntarily paid $75,000 restitution to Game and Fish. Farah was
sentenced to 30 days home confinement.
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