Tools

Trial opens in illegal bighorn purchase

By The Associated Press

Story Created: Mar 18, 2010 at 9:24 AM MST

Story Updated: Mar 18, 2010 at 9:24 AM MST

BOULDER - Trial has begun in Boulder for a Whitehall taxidermist charged with paying $5,000 to buy a trophy bighorn ram that he knew had been shot illegally.

John Lewton is charged with felony purchase of an illegally killed animal.

The case is controversial because the ram was shot by an undercover Fish, Wildlife and Parks warden as Lewton was being investigated for illegal outfitting.

Prosecutors said Wednesday that Lewton knew the ram was shot illegally because two other men used two-way radios and crossed private land to help lead the warden to the trophy animal in September 2008 southeast of Big Sandy.

Attorney Jack Morris says his client is a businessman who makes hunting videos. Morris says the state is trying to divert attention from the fact that warden Justin Gibson shot the ram. The warden says he intentionally missed several shots at the ram before finally killing it.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

News, Sports, Weather for Great Falls, Helena, and all of Montana and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Great Falls & Helena Weather

Icon
Great Falls Great Falls Intl Airport, MT
Current Temp 37.0 °F
Overcast
Wind : Southwest at 10.4 MPH (9 KT)
Pressure : 1011.3 mb
Humidity : 62 %
Icon
Helena Helena Regional, MT
Current Temp 23.0 °F
Overcast
Wind : Calm
Pressure : 1015.6 mb
Humidity : 81 %
Click here for our video forecast
More Weather
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

AP Video