May 14, 2009
$5,000 IN TOTAL FINES FOR UNLAWFULLY SHOOTING MOOSE
Four men have been fined $5,000 for unlawfully shooting a bull moose without a validation tag.
Bryan Dean Pennett, 39, has been fined $2,000 for illegally possessing a bull moose and obstructing conservation officers. His hunting rifle was forfeited to the Crown.
Court was told that on October 9, 2006, Pennett was stopped by conservation officers on the West Branch Domtar Road, approximately 70 kilometres north of Sault Ste. Marie. Pennett was in possession of a bull moose that was unlawfully killed by a person without an adult validation tag. The individual acquired the assistance of Pennett, a First Nation member with treaty harvesting rights, to claim the moose.
The case was heard before Justice of the Peace Patricia Tennant on April 30, 2009, in the Ontario Court of Justice, Sault Ste. Marie
Kenneth Arniel, 42, also of Sault Ste. Marie has been fined $2,000 and received a one-year hunting prohibition after earlier pleading guilty to unlawfully killing a bull moose without an adult validation tag and unlawfully transporting the animal.
Ronald Ainslie, 64, of Sault Ste. Marie and Fred Arniel, 63, of Gore Bay, both received a $500 fine after pleading guilty earlier to making a false statement to a conservation officer.
Justice of the Peace Sharon Roberson heard the case involving Kenneth Arniel on November 6, 2008, in the Ontario Court of Justice, Sault Ste. Marie. Justice of the Peace Paula Nichols heard the case involving Ronald Ainslie and Fred Arniel on June 5, 2008.
To report a natural resource
violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your
ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers
anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).