Two Montana Men Charged With the Illegal Killing of a Bear

A laundry list of misdeeds could lead to some pretty severe punishment.

In an investigation that dates back over two years now, a major breakthrough occurred with an arrest on Wednesday, July 31. From conspiracy to illegal transport to hunting out of season, this is one poaching that doesn't sound like it will end with a slap on the wrist.

According to a release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging two Montana men with illegally killing a brown bear on a national wildlife refuge in Alaska. According to court documents, between May 9 to May 12, 2022, Richard McAtee, 46, and Arlon Franz, 51, both of Montana, conspired together to possess and transport a brown bear that they illegally killed in the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge. Mr. McAtee was arrested Wednesday night (7/31/24) in Montana.

SOME OF THE INDICTMENT ALLEGATIONS

>One of the men was a nonresident hunting without a contract with a master guide.

>The bear was shot and killed before the legal season to hunt brown bear had opened and the same day the hunter had been airborne, in violation of state and federal laws.

>The defendants salvaged the hide of the illegally taken brown bear in the field and transported it from the Alaska Peninsula to a local hunting lodge, and from there eventually to Anchorage.

IF CONVICTED:

If convicted, each man faces up to five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.