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Erik Van Woerkom, an internet looking persona of the Muley Freak crew, has been charged with felony illegal possession of a trophy mule deer and misdemeanor trespass, in keeping with Idaho courtroom paperwork obtained by GearJunkie.
On Oct. 12, 2022, the 36-year-old hunter obtained citations for trespassing to hunt a mule deer buck on personal floor, in addition to one other cost of possession of that animal.
Each expenses had initially been marked as misdemeanors, however Van Woerkom’s scenario was about to alter. The citations issued by Idaho Fish and Sport officers included a observe that mentioned, “To wit: trophy mule deer buck.”
It seems the mule deer measured 11 inches over the 150-inch Idaho trophy restrict for mule deer bucks. That led prosecutors to alter the misdemeanor possession cost to a felony, as Idaho has stiffer penalties for possession of a trophy animal.
In November, Idaho prosecutors introduced an amended case: the misdemeanor trespassing cost in addition to the escalated felony cost for illegal possession of a trophy mule deer.
The looking movie star’s “crime towards the folks of the State of Idaho” might land him a most penalty of 5 years in jail and/or $50,000 in fines. Van Woerkom might additionally face a $2,000 advantageous for the illegally possessed animal and lose his Idaho looking privileges for all times.
Celeb Hunters Operating Afoul of the Regulation
Van Woerkom isn’t the primary movie star hunter lately to be charged with hunting-related offenses. Josh and Sarah Bowmar and their firm Bowmar Bowhunting, LLC, pled responsible in October 2022 to conspiring to violate the Lacey Act, a legislation regarding unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly possessing, transporting, or promoting wildlife.
The Bowmars’ plea deal concerned dropping the opposite expenses hanging over them, together with illegally transporting recreation throughout state strains, illegally baiting wildlife, and looking wild turkeys with out a allow.
Since pleading responsible, the Bowmars efficiently petitioned the courtroom to change the phrases of their probation. The place as soon as they had been unable to own bows, the couple could now manufacture and possess bows and equipment for enterprise functions solely. As of this writing, the Bowmars are nonetheless prohibited from proudly owning and accessing firearms, although they could make further requests to the courtroom to change that ruling.
As for Van Woerkom, the state of Idaho’s case towards him will resume in Oneida County’s Sixth District Court docket on March 17, 2023.
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