
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 24, 1990                   TAG: 9003242299
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KEVIN KITTREDGE SHENANDOAH BUREAU
DATELINE: LEXINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

ILLEGAL-HUNTING CONVICTION BRINGS 6-MONTH TERM, FINE

Gary Austin, described by prosecutors as the leader of a group that illegally hunted bear, deer and turkey, was sentenced Friday to six months in prison.

Austin, a 35-year-old construction worker from Natural Bridge Station who authorities said hired out as a hunting guide, also was ordered to pay $4,000 in fines by Rockbridge County General District Court Judge Joseph Hess.

In addition, Austin must pay $1,080 in restitution, forfeit items used in the hunting - including an all-terrain vehicle - and lose his hunting license for two years, said Robert N. Joyce, the assistant commonwealth's attorney in Lexington.

Austin had been charged with 92 game violations in Rockbridge and Botetourt counties. He pleaded guilty to 60 of them Friday in Lexington, said Joyce.

"He was the main player," Joyce said.

Austin is to appear in Botetourt County to face charges Monday, said Commonwealth's Attorney William Heartwell.

Also sentenced on Friday was John Gilliam, who pleaded guilty to several hunting violations. Gilliam, 43, of Natural Bridge Station must pay $1,450 in fines, said Joyce.

In addition, William Eugene Hostetter, 41, of Buchanan was fined $300 and John Andrew Wilson, 35, of Natural Bridge Station was fined $200 for hunting violations, court records show.

Four other men - Freddy Gilliam, 54, and Floyd Frank Austin, 62, both of Natural Bridge Station; Sammy Huffman, 37, of Glasgow; and Ross Payne Darling, 24, of Richmond - also were fined Wednesday for hunting violations, court records show.

The arrests of 23 people from several counties were announced in February, capping an eight-month investigation by Department of Game and Inland Fisheries agents into bear poaching in Rockbridge and Botetourt counties.

The violations involved hunting for bear, deer and turkey as well as trespassing on federal government roads and littering, authorities said at the time.

The hunting apparently was purely for recreation.

"There wasn't any commercialization aspect," Col. Gerald Simmons, chief of law enforcement for the Game Department, said in February.

Agents discovered violators were using modern electronic technology, often tracking bears with dogs wearing electronic tracking collars.

At night, recorded animal calls were used with red spotlights to hunt and kill foxes and bobcats.

Simmons said he was "happy with the decisions that the court made" Friday in Lexington.

by CNB