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LEWISTOWN, Mont. – A Pennsylvania man was sentenced earlier this year in Montana, in Fergus County Justice Court on 23 counts of wildlife related charges.
Mike Vaul, of Mifflin, was ordered to pay $22,416 in fines and restitution for illegally purchasing resident licenses as a non-resident, unlawful possession of game animals, and hunting bobcats without a license.
Vaul, 51, was further sentenced to six years of hunting, fishing and trapping privilege suspension and 180 days of jail time, all suspended.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game wardens determined Vaul purchased Montana resident licenses from 2003 to 2010 but did not reside in-state for 180 consecutive days at any time, nor did he pay Montana taxes that, as a resident, would be required.
Montana’s game wardens obtained a search warrant for Vaul’s Pennsylvania home and with the help of Pennsylvania Game Commission officers found evidence that led to Vaul’s conviction.
Vaul was found guilty of unlawful possession of two antelope bucks, one of which was a trophy, one antelope doe, one trophy mule deer buck, two bull elk and five wild turkeys.
“In residency cases it’s been my experience that if they are willing to break residency laws, they are willing to break other fish and game laws” FWP Game Warden Mike Krings said in a press release. “In this case Vaul was charged, not just with residency and the hunting with those unlawful licenses, but also with possessions on animals that he had no licenses for, including hunting bobcats.”
Vaul was found guilty by jury in March 2014.
The trial was presided over by Judge Jack Shields, who levied the fines and restitution.
Vaul appealed and then failed to appear at his appeal, where the verdict was remanded back to the justice court now presided over by Judge Kelly Mantooth, who reinstated the previous penalties and added charges of contempt of court in March.