Louisiana Man Illegally Transported Deer in Texas
Posted/updated on: September 10, 2013 at 4:49 pm
TYLER — A Shreveport, Louisiana, man has been sentenced to pay over $14,000.00 in restitution and serve 48 hours of community service as conditions of a two year probated sentence for federal wildlife violations in East Texas. Stephen Anderson Sipes Jr. pleaded guilty on June 10 to negligent transportation of wildlife. He was sentenced Monday by U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
Federal prosecutors say Sipes had an ownership interest in a high-fence ranch in Sanderson, Texas. On January 14, 2010, Sipes transported and possessed 14 live, illegally imported whitetail deer valued at over $350.00 each from Carthage, Missouri to the ranch in Sanderson, which is prohibited by Texas law. The fair market value of the illegally imported whitetail deer was approximately $5,650.00. Sipes must pay $14,016.49 in restitution to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to compensate the agency for costs incurred in protecting the native deer from the threat of disease carried by the Missouri whitetails.
