By Matt Volz
The men organized the hunts on the northwestern Montana reservation in 2010 and 2011. Federal prosecutors allege the hunts were unlicensed and the men illegally sold the tribe’s wildlife, but supporters say the hunts were organized to boost the poverty-stricken reservation’s economy and raise its profile.
Jay St. Goddard, Jay Wells and Gayle Skunkcap Jr. pleaded not guilty to six felony counts that include conspiracy, the illegal sale of tribal wildlife, theft from a tribal government receiving federal funds and making false statements. They made a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong in Great Falls.
None of the musicians is facing any charges. Publicists for Moore and Thompson did not immediately respond to queries from The Associated Press.
The outcome:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Ex-tribal-leaders-to-settle-over-musicians-hunts-4326941.php
Ex-tribal leaders to settle over musicians' hunts
Three former Blackfeet tribal leaders have reached plea deals on federal charges they held illegal big-game hunts for country musicians and an outdoors television show's hosts by allowing them to shoot elk, moose, deer and a black bear on the reservation without licenses.
Former Blackfeet Tribal Business Council members Jay St. Goddard and Jay Wells, and former tribal Fish and Game Director Gayle Skunkcap Jr. held the hunts in 2010 and 2011 for up-and-coming stars, including Josh Thompson and Justin Moore.
The sentences:
ReplyDeletehttp://golackawanna.com/news/apfeatures/80716410890405713/Montana-leaders-held-illegal-hunts-for-musicians
Montana leaders held illegal hunts for musicians
Three former Blackfeet tribal leaders will serve three years of probation for holding illegal big-game hunts for country musicians that were filming an outdoors television show on the northwestern Montana reservation.
U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen on Thursday also ordered Jay St. Goddard, Jay Wells and Gayle Skunkcap Jr. to pay $56,625 in restitution.