"We had no choice but to follow it though to the end. There are two reasons for that: One is let's follow justice, and two, let's put an end to this so there are no additional allegations." He added the investigation was well under way before any complaints were raised with lawmakers.

"It had nothing to do with that."

Hoyer contends he and his father were about the only people in the country who were engaged in active field research involving the rubber boa, a docile, non-venomous snake that is indigenous to Western states.

The whole controversy has derailed the research because he says his conviction means he can't continue his work, something Pratt said he's not aware of.

"It is the people's loss," Hoyer said. "I was not harming Utah wildlife. I have not illegally collected Utah wildlife, and what I was doing was beneficial to Utah wildlife in gaining understanding of the species, and now nobody else is going to be carrying that on."

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E-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com