- of $4,500."

A10 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Illegal American guides. |
given a massive fine _

By MARGARET.SPEIRS "
TWQ. AMERICANS are
losing their fishing boat and
trailer to the government and _
. Were given huge fines ‘after
’ being convicted for itlepally”
angling .on- the’ Skeena and
Kalum:Rivers last summer:

Billy Jack’ Witi; 57, and. J

‘son Christian, 32, of Wash-.
ington state: pleaded’ ‘guilty:
to illegally ‘guiding several.
fishermen, on July 23° and -
24,005.

‘The pair were sentenced
to pay $12,000 cach, a total
of $24,000, -

OF that, $23, 400-4 is pay-
able to the’ ‘Habitat Conger:
vation Trust Fund with: the
remaining $800 being a fine.

‘They must pay. also’ $3,000.

. restitution to the Minisiry- of
Water, Land and Air Protec«
tion, :

Both are’ ‘prohibited. from
hunting or fishing inBC, for ”

“10 years, 0
The duo's: $40,900: boat”
and: ‘trailer’:and“ all. seized:
‘gear, valued: “at $10,720,
must be forfeited." ” *

. Their-pickup. truck will:

- mol be forfeited but it will
be held until the fine is paid, =
The - ‘tine must, ibe: “paid: ‘by®

~The Witts Blended guilty

to lwo’ counts each. of, un
lawlully: guiding for fish.in-

. Canada’ without a guiding -
licence, one. count Gach :of *
. falsely stating: the “purpds
of ‘entry, into. Canada: was
vacation trip, and one.count:
~ each of. willful obstructio
of conservation officer’ Chtis

- the money was used to share .

"per a he said,.:

_ Stays | in Canada untila substantial fine i is ‘paid. ~

. FILE PHOTO

the: defence argument that:

- the trip’s expenses. 7
The clients agreed lo pa

» mission,” de Walle said:

trials”. Beran ‘said,

Price, who was engaged i in” is

the exceution of his- duty, :
The Witts Operate. a: fish:
guiding “company,:. Colum. |

bia. River Fishing Guides; o
which. defénce’ lawyerMi- a

chael Shaw said had:become ,
the subject of 3 an ‘undercover:
operation in the LS,. a
The subject of. fishing i in”
Terrace arose andthe: Wilts:

offered to” guide: their’ cli-

ents; undercover officers, on:
the Skeena even though they

B.C.

They all agreed
~ per-day- -per-clier ;
deposit was-made, «

The Wits, received a iota.

They - ‘operated’ the boat:-
and -supplied -the--gear:and -.
bait. The truck, trailer, gear.
and $4,500. was seized when.
both were’ arrested,“

Provincial Crown’ coun-

sel Ron Beran: said. that the -
nine days. both served in jail:
while arranging | bail Was ad:
equate jail times?" 3°
He asked ‘that: cach pay.”
$20,000 - restitution “and
$3,000, réflecting -the: bal: -

weren t licensed: to guide | in 5

nO
.

ance of-fees paid by: ‘the. un- -

dercover agents, ° Se
He added that ‘the ‘seized,

property * be” eld’ until. the <

fine is paid, .:

“It’s meant as a way ofe en- .

shaed: expenses’ coma
and, defence failed’ to show
evidence lo support this sub:

Atthe: end of ihe‘two- day’
} “T-think -.
“a it san important ruling that

‘Seniericing \.

“took D Dec. id and Dee. 1S.

6 MONTHS.

NO INTEREST

NO PAYMENTS
0.A.C.

~ couraging the. ‘Wills to Pay’ Cg

their fines, =: =:
Defence counsel Michael “!

Shaw jagrecd that-each- be 7

given credit for time served,..
but each only paya fine rang: *-

ing from $7,500 to $10,000 °.

and no forfeitures. 7°

’ Provincial court judge | Ed - o

De Walle-said the court -ac-
knowledged that both were
unable ‘to ‘eam ‘their liveli-:
hood after the seizure : of :
their fishing equipment... te
He considered ‘that both.
pleaded guilty and both suf-
fered negative . publicity’. in’
the U.S..
a loss. of clientele for. their.
business, 2."
But he said ihe: action§ of
both were clearly.deliberate: .
and ‘planned and’ that. both’.
deviséd: a. plan to decelve.
conservation . : Officers . by >
concocting a story that their.
clients were just friends.
Their plan: -was.-detailed-
even to the point. ‘they: ‘por

which, also-led to oy

chased . salmon foe: “before 7

coming to. B.E.: ‘ard: made.
false statements upon arriv-
ing in Canada... >:
“The accused: ‘knew full
well ‘they'd. attract the ‘at-

tention of Canadian -aulhori- ne .

lies with’ their activity and
boat and wanted everything |
to’ look: up. front" ” de Walle:
said.

“All this v was ; part of their
plan. to ‘avoid “detection of ~
’ their legal eviding gclivi.

Wilk send’a message to: like-
: minded: individuals. that wwe <<] -
a -cerlainly: hope they will take. ~
‘". the resolve of the court and .
“Crown seriously,” me Les

- arguments

PROVINCIAL Conservation officer Christopher: Prince’ stands with a truck seized "| chutes,

trom two Americans who have now been sentenced. for illegal guiding. The truck >

“al

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