Mike Zlotnicki, Staff Writer
Men sentenced for waterfowl baiting
ELIZABETH CITY -- Five men were sentenced in federal court on Tuesday for baiting and killing migratory birds.
James E. Johnson Jr., 71, of Virginia Beach, Va., pled guilty to taking or attempting to take migratory game birds by aid of baiting and killing the migratory birds and unlawfully failing to retain the birds.
Able L. Brand, 70, of Supply and John T. Ragland, 69, of Weston, Conn., each pled guilty to killing the migratory birds and unlawfully failing to retain the birds.
Troy R. Godwin, 37, of New Bern and Raymond H. Rhoden, 58, of Hobucken, each pled guilty to conspiring to violate provisions of the Migratory Bird Treaty.
U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle took their pleas and handed down their sentences.
Johnson received one year of probation with no hunting during the period and a $7,500 fine.
Rhoden and Godwin each received one year probation with no hunting during that period and a $500 fine.
Brand and Ragland were each fined $1,000.
During the 2006-07 hunting season, Johnson purchased more than 20 tons of corn.
On Jan. 12 and 14, 2007, using a boat owned by Johnson, Godwin and Rhoden, employees of Johnson's, placed corn in Porpoise Creek in Pamlico County. On Jan. 16, 2007, Godwin and Rhoden transported Johnson, Ragland and Brand to a waterfowl hunting blind in Porpoise Creek.
From the position of the blind, Johnson, Ragland and Brand shot several scaup ducks.
Johnson then contacted Godwin and Rhoden, who had previously left the area, to return to the blind to retrieve the freshly killed ducks. Once the ducks were retrieved, Johnson, Ragland and Brand then resumed hunting.
Investigation of the case was conducted by agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Kocher served as prosecutor for the government.
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/998042.html
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