Katka Road residents who were suspected of elk baiting last year were caught by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

The site is on the Richard Raine property on Katka Road. IDFG began working this elk baiting case in December of last year, according to Greg Johnson of IDFG.

“Due to lack of snow, the suspects left without killing any animals,” Greg Johnson said. “IDFG officers staked out the site again this year and were able to catch the people.”

According to Greg Johnson, IDFG officers observed Raine’s daughter Barbera Johnson, 40, hunt and kill a 6X7 bull elk from a tree stand at the bait site.

Boundary County prosecutor Jack Douglas applied for a search warrant for the Richard Raine property and Magistrate Judge Justin Julian issued the warrant on Dec. 11.

IDFG officers assisted by U.S. Border patrol and Idaho State Police served the warrant on Dec. 12.

During service of the warrant, officers discovered another elk this one a cow that was killed by Robert Johnson hanging in a shop with the bull elk killed by Barbera Johnson.

According to Greg Johnson, IDFG officers arrested Robert Johnson, 41,  and issued citations to Barbera Johnson and Richard Raine.

All three  suspects appeared in Boundary County Court on Monday,  Dec. 13 and pled guilty to the charges.

Robert Johnson was charged and pled guilty to two counts of possession of unlawfully taken elk and one count of taking an elk over bait. He was fined $3000,  in misdemeanor fines and assessed $2250 in civil penalties.  Robert Johnson was also assessed $350 in processing fees. Judge Justin Julian suspended Johnsons hunting license for five years.

 Barbera Johnson was charged and pled guilty to Hunting elk without a license, hunting elk without a tag and for taking elk over bait. Barbera Johnson was fined $3000 and lost her hunting license for five years.

 Richard Raine, 70,  was charged and pled guilty to two counts of possession of unlawfully taken elk. He was fined $1,000, and lost his hunting license for two years.