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November 10, 2009
Portales, N.M. -- Two Portales men were fined, one jailed, after pleading
guilty in separate poaching cases Oct. 21 before Roosevelt County Magistrate
Jane Martin.
Jacob Gaines, 21, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2,255 for poaching
deer and antelope. Gaines originally was charged with 31 separate counts of
poaching-related crimes stemming from a lengthy investigation by Department of
Game and Fish and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s officers. Through a plea agreement,
Gaines pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful killing of deer, two counts of
unlawful possession of deer and one count of unlawful possession of antelope.
Gaines also faces possible civil damages of $16,250 because the animals he
poached were considered trophies.
In a separate case, Wade Richardson, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful
killing of an antelope and was fined $467. Richardson pleaded guilty to killing
a buck antelope when he had a license for a female or immature antelope. He
admitted to the poaching during an interview with District Wildlife Officers
Nathan Romeo and Mark Holguin.
The antelope Richardson poached was considered a trophy, so he also faces
possible civil damages of $4,000 to reimburse the state for the loss of the
animal.
Anyone with information about any wildlife crime in New Mexico is urged to call
Operation Game Thief at 1-800-432-GAME (4263). Callers need not identify
themselves or testify in court, and may be eligible for rewards.
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