On August 9, 2012, a jury reached a verdict in the trial of Ms. Danielle Brewster of Springdale. She had been charged with Unlawful Hunting of Big Game in the 1st Degree (felony) and Waste of Fish and Wildlife in the First Degree, as a result of her involvement in the illegal killing of a pregnant cow moose and her two yearling calves near her Springdale area home in early February of this year.

Officers Dan Anderson and Pam Taylor of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife completed an extensive investigation into the matter after receiving an anonymous tip that moose had been killed in the area. More than 600 pounds of meat was salvaged and donated to the Loon Lake Food Pantry

Ms. Brewster’s case went to trial even though she had twice confessed to law enforcement about her involvement in the killing of all three moose. At the trial, when Ms. Brewster testified, she denied involvement in the crime. After deliberating for more than three hours, the jury found Ms. Brewster guilty of the lesser included charge of Unlawful Hunting of Big Game in the 2d Degree. (A gross misdemeanor)

On August 14, 2012, Stevens County Superior Court Judge Al Nielson sentenced Ms. Brewster to 30 days jail with the possibility of converting 20 of those days to 160 hours community service, and $5,000 in fines and court costs. In addition Ms. Brewster’s hunting privileges will be suspended for two years or until the fines have been paid.

Two other men involved in the case, Gary Johnson, and another Springdale area resident, Daniel Bailey, have previously entered pleas of guilty to the felony charge of Unlawful Hunting of Big Game in the 1st Degree. Mr. Johnson has been sentenced to serve 45 days jail, pay more than $12,000 in fines, and will lose his hunting privileges for ten years. Mr. Bailey is due to be sentenced on August 28th and prosecutors will recommend that he receive a similar sentence. Deputy Prosecutor Ken Tyndall handled the prosecution of these wildlife offenses.