A man was fined $,1500 and received a one-year hunting license suspension after pleading guilty to unauthorized hunting.
Donald Fobert appeared in provincial court in Drumheller on Friday, February 11, via telephone.
He was facing two charges under the Alberta Wildlife Act, including unauthorized hunting on occupied land without the consent of the owner and possession of wildlife. He pled guilty to the unauthorized hunting charge.
The court heard on November 11, 2020, at 4 p.m., two witnesses saw two people cutting and loading a mule deer. The witness knew the landowner and knew they did not permit hunting on their land. They obtained the license plate.
Fish and Wildlife Officer Visser investigated and learned the license plate belonged to Fobert. He also took statements from the witnesses and landowner and collected DNA from the deer at the scene.
Officer Markotic seized the vehicle, and investigators obtained a search warrant. They took blood and tissue samples and noted they matched the DNA material from the scene. The witness identified Fobert, and investigators also obtained cell phone information that showed that Fobert was in the area.
While the trial was originally scheduled for February 25, the judge took into account his timely guilty plea. He fined Fobert $1,500, and suspended his hunting license for a year. The second charge was withdrawn.
There was a forfeiture order for the exhibits taken for the investigation and Fobert also faces a $3,900 bill for storage of his truck.
