Athol man gets probation for buying unlawfully taken wildlife
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 2 months AGO
COEUR d'ALENE — An Athol man was put on probation after being found guilty in June of nine counts of felony purchasing of unlawfully taken wildlife.
Gordon A. Wilson, 66, was sentenced Monday by Judge John Mitchell to a 15-year prison sentence, but suspended the sentence and placed Wilson on supervised probation for five years, according to a press release.
Mitchell ordered a lifetime revocation of Wilson’s hunting and trapping privileges and ordered him to reimburse the state $102,057.50.
The release said Wilson bought Northern Leather and Craft Supply in Hayden in 2016. Throughout 2021 and 2022, Wilson purchased unlawfully taken wildlife.
"The unlawfully taken wildlife included eight mountain lions — two of which were spotted kittens. Additionally, Wilson purchased parts of a golden eagle," the release said. "Many of the lions Wilson purchased had been snared and bore obvious evidence of such on their hides."
It is unlawful to snare mountain lions in Idaho.
During at least one of these transactions, Wilson instructed the sellers on the best way to hide the snare marks when they brought him lions in the future — specifically, by cutting off the head and paws, the most valuable parts, above the snare mark, the release said.
The golden eagle purchased by Wilson is a federally protected species and is illegal to possess under state law.
The evidence admitted at trial showed Wilson cutting the head and feet off the golden eagle and suggesting the sellers dispose of the carcass in a dumpster, the release said.
"On more than one occasion, Wilson threatened to kill the sellers if they reported him to the authorities," the release said.
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