Wyoming Poacher Ignores Sentence; Ends Up
With Felony And Jail
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November 24, 2006
Pinedale, Wyoming - Landen Wisell, who became known locally
as the "Pinedale Poacher," is once again behind bars in the Sublette
County Jail.
On Nov. 15, Wisell appeared before District Court Judge Nancy
Guthrie to face charges of violating his probation from his
conviction of illegally killing deer, moose and antelope in the
Pinedale area in the summer of 2004.
In July 2004, Wyoming Game and Fish Department game wardens Dennis
Almquist and Herb Haley began investigating the poaching of three
mule deer shot and left in the town of Pinedale. All three deer had
been killed with bow and arrow and left where they died.
The investigation eventually revealed that Wisell and Cody Callison,
had illegally killed four mule deer, a bull moose and buck antelope
in June and July of 2004 in what Almquist and Haley described as one
of the "most egregious poaching sprees" either had investigated.
Both suspects were arrested and convicted on numerous charges,
including a felony charge of destroying state property, which in
this case was the wildlife. According to state statutes, deer, moose
and antelope are the property of the state and are valued at more
than $1000, making their destruction a felony.
In February 2005, Wisell pleaded guilty to felony destruction of
state property, knowingly killing a bull moose without a license,
knowingly killing a horned antelope without a license, two counts of
killing a deer out of season, and two counts of wanton destruction
of deer. He received a deferral on the felony charge, but was
sentenced to $15,110 in fines, $7,500 in restitution, four years in
jail and nine years of probation. The judge ruled $9,000 of the
fines and all but 60 days of the jail sentenced be suspended. In
addition, Wisell’s privileges to hunt, fish and trap were suspended
for 15 years.
The court agreed to defer the felony charge if Wisell complied with
all the conditions of his probation for five years. If he completed
his probation, the felony would be permanently stricken from his
record.
While on probation, Wisell was forbidden from taking any wildlife,
possessing any equipment that could be used to take wildlife,
accompanying anyone who was taking wildlife and could not acquire
any new wildlife parts.
Less than a year after Wisell’s sentencing, officers in Ohio began
investigating Wisell for possible hunting violations in Ohio. "I was
surprised when I got the call from Ohio," Haley said. "Landen
shouldn’t have been hunting at all, let alone violating Ohio’s
hunting laws. With the possibility of being a convicted felon, along
with all the jail time and fines that were suspended, it surprised
me that he violated his probation so soon after being sentenced. He
was given a second chance and he chose to ignore that chance."
In September 2006, the Sublette County Attorney’s Office filed a
motion to revoke Wisell’s probation, alleging that he violated
several conditions of his probation, including taking wildlife,
possessing equipment that could be used to take wildlife, and
acquiring new wildlife parts.
On Nov. 15, Wisell again stood before Judge Guthrie and admitted he
had hunted, killed a deer in Ohio and had possessed hunting
equipment, all in violation of his probation.
After hearing the testimony and arguments, Judge Guthrie revoked
Wisell’s probation, which included revoking the earlier deferral on
the felony charge, and sentenced him to serve two to four years in
the state penitentiary in Rawlins. In a "split sentence," Guthrie
suspended the Rawlins term and then sentenced him to serve six
months in the county jail starting immediately.
As a result, Wisell is now a convicted felon, which prevents him
from possessing any firearms, voting or getting federal aid, along
with other ramifications. He will continue on probation after being
released from jail and if he violates any condition of his probation
again, he could be sent to the penitentiary in Rawlins.
According to Deputy Sublette County Attorney Mike Crosson, "This
should serve as a warning to others that the Game and Fish
Department will aggressively investigate and the county attorney’s
office will aggressively prosecute, anyone who chooses to illegally
poach our treasured wildlife resources."
The Sublette County Attorney’s Office indicated they would continue
to consider charging poachers with felony destruction of state
property if caught committing such serious violations as killing
antlered big game on winter ranges.
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