Charges detail extensive poaching ring in Washington, Oregon

[Judi Lynn]

17. Cellphones Provide Mountain of Evidence in Poaching Ring That Potentially Claimed 100 Animals

Family Traditions: Some Suspects Allegedly Exposed Children to Illegal Kills, Have Ties to ‘Kill ‘Em All Boyz’
By Jordan Nailon / [e-mail]
 14 hrs ago

Members of a prolific local wildlife poaching ring often treated their sordid endeavors as a familial bonding experience of sorts. Fathers and sons shared credit for illegal kills. Boyfriends brought their girlfriends along and showed them how to kill big game out of season and with the illegal help of hunting hounds.

In a number of cases, juvenile relatives were even brought along into the backwoods and allowed to not only observe, but take part in the unfettered, unethical killings of deer, elk, black bears, bobcats and cougars.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recently wrapped up the first leg of its investigation into the poaching and recommended seven people for more than 200 charges to the Skamania County prosecutor. It is unclear how many of those charges and suspects will wind up being prosecuted in court, but the mountain of evidence compiled by the WDFW is staggering. The WDFW says it has identified more than 10 suspects in total and expects additional charges to emerge from their cases as time goes on. For now though, the focus is on bringing justice to the most avid participants in the poaching activities that the WDFW says occurred between August 2015 and February 2017.

So far, at least 35 documented poaching trips have been submitted as evidence to support charges against the suspected poachers. In all, law enforcement officials believe the affiliated group of poachers could be responsible for the illegal killing of more than 100 animals, many of which were left behind to rot either fully intact or with just their trophy parts removed. The individuals facing charges at this time include Joseph Dills, 30, of Longview; Eddy Dills, 57, of Longview; William Haynes, 23, of Longview; Erik Christian Martin, 23, of Longview; and Bryan C. Tretiak, 31, of Morton. Aubri (Larsen) McKenna, 35, of Longview, and Sierra Dills, 17, of Longview, have also been referred for misdemeanor charges in Skamania County.

More:
http://www.chronline.com/news/cellphones-provide-mountain-of-evidence-in-poaching-ring-that-claimed/article_79909c6c-9523-11e7-96ac-4b8a97191f69.html

- photos of these monsters at link -