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July 16, 2010
Crossville, Tennessee - Tennessee Wildlife Resources
Agency officers recently made history in the state utilizing the
Wildlife Violator’s Compact. A Bradley County man received jail time
after he violated his Tennessee wildlife violation probation by
fishing in another state.
 On
July 8, Kurt Wesley Ellis, 31, of Cleveland, pled guilty to the
charge he violated his probation by fishing in Georgia. He received
two consecutive 364-day jail terms in Bradley County with credit for
time served up to that point in both states.
“This is the first time a violator has received jail time as a
result of utilizing the Wildlife Violator’s Compact,” said Fred
Funter, TWRA Compact Coordinator.
In January 2009, after pleading guilty to 12 wildlife violation
charges in Bradley County, Ellis received in addition to fines, 10
days in jail to serve, 100 hours of community service, and two years
of intense probation.
“Ellis’ hunting and fishing privileges had already been revoked for
a 20-year period in Tennessee as a result of previous charges,” said
Phillip Earhart, Bradley County TWRA Wildlife Officer. “Back in
November 2008, TWRA discovered evidence that suggested Ellis was
violating his hunting privilege revocation. After that we received
additional information he was operating on both sides of the
Tennessee and Georgia state line and numerous officers from both
states became involved in attempting to catch Ellis in the act of
hunting or fishing.”
Wildlife officers continued to gather information and this spring
Tennessee officers Earhart and fellow Bradley County officer, Ben
Davis, received information that Ellis was fishing in a trout stream
in Georgia. They contacted Georgia Department of Natural Resources,
local officer, Cpl. Casey Jones. Cpl. Jones apprehended Ellis and
charged him with three charges in Georgia. With assistance from the
Bradley County District Attorney’s office, Ellis was placed on hold
in the Murray County, Ga., jail and later transferred to the Bradley
County Jail to face the charge of probation violation.
“I cannot say enough good things about how hard numerous Tennessee
wildlife officers worked on this case and how well we all worked
with our counterparts in Georgia,” said Earhart. “This is a
testament that the Wildlife Violator’s Compact works for the
sportsmen when the proper information is shared.”
Ellis is still facing charges in Hamilton County, Tenn. and Murray
County. Tennessee and Georgia are two of the 34 states currently
members of the Wildlife Violator’s Compact. Three other states have
passed legislation to join, and three additional states are in the
process to initiate the process to join. Tennessee became a member
in 2005.
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