Following a lengthy multi-state investigation into poaching activities, three individuals have pleaded guilty to a total of 19 hunting and wildlife violations in Jefferson and Adams counties, as reported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
These individuals are facing fines totaling nearly $50,000, according to state officials.
Officer Scott Murdoch of CPW stated, âThese defendants knowingly violated numerous laws without any regard for the wildlife in the state; they were poachers, not hunters. Hunters abide by ethical and legal standards while in the field, whereas poachers exploit laws and wildlife resources.â
One of the defendants, Jeffrey Flaherty, 58, entered a plea agreement in September, admitting to 13 misdemeanors such as illegal possession of big game, baiting wildlife, hunting elk out of season, and providing false information on license applications.
Investigators revealed that Flaherty misrepresented himself as a Colorado resident to obtain hunting licenses more easily and pay lower fees. It was discovered that he held an active Florida driverâs license and voted as a Florida resident in the 2020 election.
As part of his plea deal, 14 additional charges were dropped. Charges against the other two defendants, Tyrrell Flaherty and Tiffany Flaherty, were also dismissed.
Jeffrey Flaherty was fined $42,787, received two years of supervised probation, and faces a mandatory five-year license suspension through a CPW hearing.
His son, Andrew Flaherty, 27, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors in December, including illegal possession of wildlife, hunting elk with bait, and hunting out of season.
Another individual, Kenneth Curtis, 75, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors, which included baiting bears and hunting wildlife with bait.
Curtis was fined $1,646, and his hunting and fishing privileges were suspended for one year.
In an interview with CPW officers, Curtis admitted to placing elk innards and pumpkins to attract a black bear at the Flaherty property.
State officials emphasized that baiting wildlife goes against the principles of wildlife conservation and deprives animals of fair chase and lawful opportunities.
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