 December 09, 2006
During the investigation it was determined that three non-resident aliens were hunting big game with out the services of a big game guide on board the M/V Sea Spray explorer yacht, a 100 foot vessel converted from a Bristol bay crabber. Two of the nonresident aliens were citizens of Spain and one was a citizen of Mexico. Investigation revealed that the nonresident aliens were issued the wrong tags and licenses for hunting black bear and did not have a guide as required by law. Investigation also revealed that they were planning on leaving the United States on April 30, 2006 to return to their respective countries.
Photograph By Ketchikan Photographer Jim Lewis ©2006
During further investigation by Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement State Troopers between April 26th and November 2nd, the investigation revealed that vessels and employees of Shoreline Charters and the Sunnahae Lodge were taking black bear hunters into the field and remaining with clients while actively looking and hunting for black bears. Shoreline charters has a transporter license that only allows them to provided transportation services to from and in the field. The investigation reveled that employees of Shoreline Charters remained in the field with paying clients while they actively searched for black bears while driving slowly in boats along the beaches near Craig Alaska. According to the Troopers, transporters then waited in the area and watched from the boats while their clients stalked and shot their bears. After the clients shot their bears the employees stayed in the area and waited for the hunters to bring the bears to the beach. Investigation further revealed that Chris Palle and his transporter employees provided hunting blinds to their paying clients to hunt for black bears while they were in the field and failed to fill out and complete several transporter activity reports. Alaska State Troopers, Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement announced this week they have charged 38 misdemeanor counts to Shoreline Charters and it's employees. Named in the charges are, Christopher Erik Palle 32 years of age of Salt lake City, Utah, owner and operator of Shoreline Charters and employees, Michael Stewart Krieger 41 years of age of Ketchikan, Duane Donald James JR 29 years of age of Craig, and Ralph James Wolfe 24 years of age of Craig. Chris Palle, owner and operator of Shoreline Charters, has been charged with 18 counts, 16 counts of aiding in the commission of a violation of State guiding law, 2 counts of violations of transporter activity reports. Mike Krieger of Ketchikan has been charged with 10 counts, 1 count of aiding in the commission of a violation of state guiding law, 3 counts of outfitting big game hunters without a license, 5 counts of transporter remaining in the field with paying big game hunting clients and 1 count of transporter activity report violations. Donald Duane James of Craig has been charged with 8 misdemeanor counts, 2 count of aiding in the commission of a violation of state Guiding law, 2 counts of outfitting big game hunters without a license, 3 counts of transporter remaining in the field with paying big game hunting clients and 1 count of transporter activity report violations. Ralph Wolfe of Craig has been charged with 2 misdemeanor counts, 1 counts of transporter remaining in the field with paying big game hunting clients, and 1 count of transporter activity report violations. Charges are merely accusations
and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven
guilty. On the Web:
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