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Department of Justice Acting United States Attorney Candace G. Hill Contact: Dawn Masden |
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August 24, 2009
LAST DEFENDANT SENTENCED IN DOVE BAIT CASE
OWENSBORO, KY - William E. Roberts, age 56, of Owensboro, Kentucky, was sentenced in United States District Court, Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky, for violations of the National Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The violations were the placing and directing the placement of bait for the purpose of causing and inducing others to take mourning doves by the aid of bait, in violation of Title 16, U.S. Code, Sections 703, 704 (b)(2) and 707, and, for personally taking birds over bait, in violation of Title 16, U.S. Code, Sections 704(b)(1) and 707, Candace G. Hill, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky announced today. United States Magistrate Judge E. Robert Goebel did not sentence Roberts to pay a fine or court costs due to special circumstances, but did place Roberts on unsupervised probation for a period of three years and suspended his hunting rights worldwide for that same period.
The charges arise from a dove hunt, hosted by Roberts, in Daviess County on September 20, 2008 in which fresh grain was found to have been placed on the field by Roberts with no agricultural purpose other than to act as bait for mourning doves.
Previously, hunters Paul M. Yeckering, James D. Cambron II, and Larry G. Cambron, all of Philpot, paid fines, respectively, of $1,125, $1,125 and $675, for hunting over the bait placed by Roberts.
Hunting over bait violations are Class B Misdemeanors and carry a maximum fine of $15,000 and six months’ imprisonment. Placement of bait to lure and attract migratory birds is a Class A Misdemeanor and carries a maximum fine of $100,000 and one year imprisonment.
Dove season in Kentucky begins September 1, 2009. More information on the proper way to hunt doves and all migratory birds may be found on the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources website: www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/doveguide.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ream and was investigated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
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