Washington man fined for poaching

A Washington man convicted of various poaching infractions has lost his right to hunt in Idaho, and potentially 18 other states forever, and he was ordered to pay a total of $29,150 in fines and restitution, according to Idaho Fish and Game Department officials.

Christian Witt, 32, of Battle Ground was sentenced in District Court in Nezperce, Idaho, last month following 18-month investigation that involved wildlife officers from Idaho, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. His father, Billy Jack Witt, 58, was sentenced in July with fines and penalties totaling $9,750.

Six other defendants involved in the case have been sentenced in Idaho: Bradley Zenner, 46, of Nezperce; Scott LeMaster, 32, of Vancouver, Wash.; Scott Fritcher, 46, of Oregon City, Ore.; Warren Dunn, 56, of Yacolt, Wash.; Brian Shepherd, 31, of Terrebonne, Ore. and Terrence Wallingford, 35, of Vancouver.

Investigators said they uncovered evidence of numerous poached big-game animals taken in years going as far back as 1998. However, since Idaho’s statute of limitations can expire in one or two years, charges on many of the crimes could not be filed.

The Witts took Idaho and British Columbia investigators on an illegally guided salmon fishing trip at Terrace, British Columbia, in July 2004.

Idaho is a member of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, in which member states may honor each other’s license revocations.