Five people fined $55K for illegal moose hunt in northern Ontario
A 32-month investigation into illegal moose hunting near Temiskaming, Ont., has ended in convictions for five people and $44,000 in fines and $11,000 in victim surcharges.
A news release from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on Monday said the case was a joint effort with Environment Canada and Quebec’s Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks.
Court heard that in October 2018, Joseph Arko of Georgetown obtained a big game licence using another individual’s outdoors card.
Arko reported killing a bull moose in the Temiskaming area near the Quebec border that, in reality, had been harvested by Gary Giles of Orleans. Giles also possessed part of the harvested bull moose.
Arko pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting big game using a fraudulent licence and making a false statement to a conservation officer. He received $27,000 in fines and a seven-year hunting licence suspension.
Giles and Glenn Scanlan of Kirkland Lake both pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting big game and making a false statement to a conservation officer.
Giles received a $9,000 fine and a one-year hunting licence suspension. Scanlan received a $2,500 fine and a one-year moose hunting licence suspension.
Kenneth Beuglet of Belle River pleaded guilty to unlawfully transporting wildlife and unlawfully hunting big game. He received $3,000 in fines and a one-year hunting licence suspension.
Gerardo Fiacco of Downsview pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing wildlife. He received a $2,500 fine and an 18-month hunting license suspension.
"Scanlan, Fiacco and Beuglet were found to have participated in the unlawful hunt and were also in possession of portions of the bull moose that had been killed," the MNRF said in the release.
"There was also $11,000 in victim surcharge fines levied against the five convicted individuals."
All five individuals’ guilty pleas were heard by various Justices of the Peace over an 11-month period in the Ontario Court of Justice in Temiskaming Shores.
"Conservation officers remind everyone that by respecting seasons, sanctuaries, bag and possession limits, we all help ensure our natural resources stay healthy," the release said.
To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667.
You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.