(KRON) — A Northern California couple unsuspectingly divulged a variety of wildlife crimes to plainclothes officers with the California Division of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) whereas on a flight again from San Diego, based on officers. On Tuesday, CDFW introduced plea agreements have been reached within the prosecution.
The couple, recognized as 24-year-old Byron Lee Fitzpatrick and 28-year-old Shannon Lee Worth, each of Chico, have been on board a Nov. 2023 flight with two CDFW Okay-9 officers who weren’t in uniform. The couple was seated behind the officers whereas speaking about looking, which led the 2 events to start out a dialog with one another.
The couple, who have been apparently unaware that they have been talking to CDFW officers, disclosed that they have been illegally transporting a inexperienced sea turtle cranium of their carry-on baggage, based on officers. Inexperienced sea turtles are a federally listed endangered species and are unlawful to own and transport.
(California Division of Fish and Wildlife)
The dialog led Fitzpatrick and Worth to additionally admit to illegally looking a mountain lion, CDFW stated. Moreover, the 2 talked a few member of the family’s “trophy room” in Napa County, the place a number of taxidermized mountain lions, a wolverine and wolves have been illegally mounted.
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Search warrants have been later executed on the couple’s residence in Chico and the residence of the member of the family, recognized as 64-year-old Harry Vern Fitzpatrick, in Napa County.
Contained in the Chico residence, CDFW officers stated they positioned mountain lion claws, a ringtail, a barn owl mount, a spike buck and unlawfully hunted deer. On the Napa County residence, wildlife officers uncovered two taxidermized mountain lions and a taxidermized wolverine.
(California Division of Fish and Wildlife)
Mountain lions, ringtails and wolverines are protected species in California, and mounted raptors and raptor elements are unlawful to own with out needed permits. The entire illegally possessed animals and elements have been seized as proof within the investigation.
On Jan. 30, Byron Fitzpatrick pleaded responsible to fees in Butte County for the illegal take and possession of wildlife. He obtained a $1,865 high quality and a one-year probation that prohibits looking. Worth pleaded responsible to the Butte County cost of illegally possessing wildlife and obtained a $1,015 high quality and a one-year probation prohibiting looking.
In 2024, the couple had pleaded responsible to federal violations of wildlife rules and have been fined $1,000 every.
Harry Fitzpatrick pleaded responsible on Feb. 15, 2024, to 2 fees in Napa County regarding the mountain lion taxidermies. He was fined $605 and ordered to serve six months probation.
“The individuals involved exhibited a flagrant disregard for laws governing natural resources and are now being held accountable for their actions,” CDFW Chief of Regulation Enforcement Nathanial Arnold stated.
