October 6, 2006

Casper, Wyoming – More than a dozen crimes against wildlife cost a Douglas man $31,230 in fines and the loss of hunting and fishing privileges for life. Richard L. Followell also faces nationwide extradition and three years in jail if he does not pay the fines.

The charges are the result of an investigation that began in 1996. During the spring of that year, Douglas Game Warden Rod Lebert received an anonymous tip about wildlife that had been poached in Converse and surrounding counties. Upon investigation, Lebert discovered eight different locations where deer and antelope had been killed and the antlers or horns removed. At one of the locations he also found an illegally killed bobcat and the remains of numerous other wildlife. Although leads in the case pointed to Followell, 45, circumstances prevented an apprehension at that time.

During the fall of 2004, Converse County issued an outstanding warrant for Followell on unrelated charges. When Converse County deputies and Game and Fish wardens apprehended the suspect, Lebert was able to charge him with two non-bondable counts of wanton destruction from the 1996 incidents. Wildlife crimes do not have a statute of limitations in Wyoming. Upon his arrest, Followell confessed to the other six poaching violations. Facing steep fines, he asked for and was granted permission to leave Wyoming to earn enough money to pay the fines. He was ordered to return to Douglas in spring of 2005 to face the remaining charges in the case.

He was also ordered by the court to return all antlers and horns obtained through his crimes, and all were recovered except for a set of horns from a large antelope that was killed near the Douglas Raceway. Lebert and Converse County Investigator Eric Koss tracked the antelope head to a taxidermist in Colorado. But the head had already been sold on the black market to a motel owner. Game and Fish investigators are still working to recover the head.

Followell did not return for the 2005 court date and a warrant was issued for his arrest. During the week of Sept. 4, 2006, Lebert received an anonymous call that Followell was once again in the area. Lebert, along with Natrona County Deputies Bart Olsen and Corey Davidson, tracked Followell to a house in Casper but he was not found there. Followell later called Koss and turned himself in.

Lebert and Koss interviewed Followell and worked out a plea agreement with the Converse County Attorney’s Office in which Followell pleaded guilty to 13 charges including six antler statute violations (taking antlered big game out of season or without a license), six charges of wanton destruction and taking furbearers without a license. Circuit Court Judge Vincent Case accepted the pleas. Due to the severity of the case, Game and Fish dropped 32 additional charges, including shooting from a vehicle, shooting from a road, trespass, spotlighting big game and using an illegal firearm for big game.

Followell currently is a pipeline worker in Alaska and his employer agreed to send $1,000 a month from his salary to Converse County Court to settle the fines. If the total $31,230 payment is not made, Followell will be extradited back to Wyoming to serve the three-year jail term. His loss of hunting and fishing privileges will also be recognized in 21 other states under the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

Lebert is pleased with the outcome of the case. "The judge in Converse County feels that these crimes were important and imposed heavy fines," he said. "Tourism and hunting are a big part of Wyoming so our wildlife resources are important. We take a strong stand on protecting our wildlife resources."

He also thanked the other law enforcement agencies and the members of the public who helped work the case. "You don’t solve a case like this alone, it takes a lot of effort by a lot of people," he said. "Without the cooperation of the Converse County Attorney’s Office, Converse County Circuit Court Judge Vincent Case, Converse County Sheriff’s Office, Natrona County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Investigator Koss and the tips from the public, this criminal could not have been brought to justice."