Herreid Man Sentenced for Unlawful Taking of Migratory Birds and Lacey Act Violations

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Herreid, South Dakota, man charged with Unlawful Taking of Migratory Birds and Lacey Act Violations was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation, a $3,000 fine, $10,325 restitution, and a $35 assessment by U.S. Magistrate Judge William Gerdes.

Ronald M. Mittleider was charged by an Information filed on June 11, 2012. He pled guilty to the Information on June 28, 2012. The conviction stems from Mittleider illegally shooting and killing one hawk, one owl, and assisting in the illegal taking of pheasants over the daily limit on numerous occasions during paid commercial hunts at his lodge.

Mittleider was also convicted in Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of one count of Aiding and Abetting Hunting Big Game Without a License and one count of Aiding and Abetting the Over Limit of Pheasants. On July 2, 2012, he was sentenced to pay a $500 fine and $20,000 as settlement of civil damages to the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

This case was investigated by U.S. Fish & Wildlife and the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the federal case.