COEUR d’ALENE — A St. Maries man who went on a “poaching spree” in 2024 that included the killing of seven deer received a prison sentence.

Lucas B. Mitchell, 28, pleaded guilty in November to two counts of unlawfully taking a trophy white-tailed deer, both felonies. 

First District Judge Barry McHugh sentenced Mitchell last week to five years in prison for each charge, the maximum possible sentence, to be served consecutively and with parole eligibility after two years. That means Mitchell faces a total of 10 years in prison, with parole eligibility after four years. 

McHugh suspended the prison sentence and ordered Mitchell to spend seven months in jail, one month for each deer killed, followed by five years of probation and a 10-year hunting license suspension. 

Before handing down the sentence, McHugh called Mitchell’s actions “greedy” and said his behavior fell “far, far away” from the ethical and legal manner of hunting that he was taught. 

“Everyone acknowledges that hunting in North Idaho is a way of life,” McHugh said. 

Authorities said that Mitchell and William D. Clark, 24, also of St. Maries, killed seven deer in November 2024 — including five within a single 24-hour period — during unlawful hours and with spotlights. Three of the bucks were classified as trophy white-tailed deer, which carries higher penalties than non-trophy classifications. 

“Mitchell and Clark went on a poaching spree in the fall of 2024,” a conservation officer with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game wrote in a report. “They had very little regard for the rules of the state of Idaho and little respect for the natural resources.” 

Three of the deer were left to rot and, according to police, and in one case, Mitchell and Clark “dumped a whole deer off the side of a hill.” 

The investigation began last March, after conservation officers received a photo of two deer heads in the back of Mitchell’s truck. Officers contacted Mitchell in early April at his St. Maries home, where they “saw six whitetail buck heads in plain view,” according to court records. 

“(Mitchell) created a fictional story about shed hunting and finding the deer in the spring,” one officer wrote in a report. “He even showed us fictitious GPS points as to where he recovered the ‘deadheads.’” 

Digital evidence recovered from Mitchell’s cellphone and Snapchat account, including text messages, photos and videos, showed that Mitchell took four white-tail bucks, while Clark took three, according to court records. 

Prosecutors charged Mitchell last February with three counts of unlawfully killing wildlife, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of destruction of evidence, all felonies. In exchange for Mitchell’s guilty plea, the state dismissed all but two charges. 

Clark pleaded guilty in November to unlawfully killing wildlife, a felony, and is scheduled to be sentenced in April. 

In court last week, prosecuting attorney Art Verharen described how Mitchell and Clark spotlighted and shot seven bucks. 

“It’s about the worst thing you can do,” he said. “It’s a pathetic thing to do. But to do it seven times is disgusting.” 

Defense attorney Deborah Belley called the poaching “abhorrent” but said Mitchell’s behavior was unlike him and occurred because he had been drinking. 

“He had a friend with him and sometimes young men get caught up,” she said. 

Before receiving the sentence, Mitchell apologized for his actions. 

“I know what I did was wrong,” he said. “I affected the whole community and I hope you give me the opportunity to give back to the community.” 

McHugh said imposing a jail sentence with an underlying prison sentence was necessary to deter others from similar behavior. 

“Without significant consequences, people won’t take this conduct seriously,” he said. “We see cases every year where animals are left to waste or cases like this.” 

“Fish and Game thanks the public for remaining vigilant in reporting potential wildlife crimes through the Citizens Against Poaching hotline,” IDFG said in a news release. “Public involvement plays a critical role in ensuring Idaho’s fish and wildlife exists for future generations.” 

IDFG encourages anyone who observes or has information about any wildlife crime to call the Citizen Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. Information can also be reported through IDFG’s website, under the “enforcement” tab.