2 brothers fined $18,000 for poaching trophy elk

DUCHESNE — Two brothers will pay a total of $18,000 in restitution to the state for illegally taking three trophy elk and lying about it to investigators.

The money is expected to go to the Division of Wildlife Resources to assist its efforts to stop poaching.

Jeremy Lefler, 34, Duchesne, appeared in 8th District Court in Duchesne last week to enter guilty pleas to two third-degree felony counts of wanton destruction of protected wildlife. The charges stem from two different cases, both in October 2004.

Lefler was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution, spend 10 days in the Duchesne County Jail, complete three years of probation and forfeit his hunting rifle.

Jed Lefler, 25, Heber, who appeared with his older brother before Judge John R. Anderson last week, pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony for wanton destruction of protected wildlife and to a class B misdemeanor for criminal mischief.

Jed Lefler must pay $8,000 in restitution, complete two years of probation and forfeit his hunting rifle.

Both men still face civil action by the DWR, which could result in the revocation of their hunting licenses. DWR Conservation Officer Sean Davis said the division has the authority to strip hunting privileges for seven years for a conviction of illegally taking elk and for 14 years on a single conviction of illegally taking a trophy elk.

That means Jeremy Lefler could have his license revoked for up to 28 years, while Jed Lefler could lose his license for 14 years. A DWR hearing officer will make that determination, said Davis.

During the entry of pleas, the Leflers' defense attorney told the judge his clients admitted to shooting the elk at night on private property. According to DWR investigators, during the second week of hunting season last year, Jeremy Lefler shot an elk with a 5-by-6 spread, which is classified as a trophy elk, and left it to rot. The animal was shot as it stood in an alfalfa field just off of U-35 between Tabiona and Utahn, according to court records.

Jeremy and Jed Lefler also pleaded guilty entered guilty pleas to shooting a 6-by-5 elk and a 6-by-6 elk in the same area around the same time. They initially claimed they shot the trophy elk in the North Fork area where they had the legal tags.

DWR officials still are trying to solve about six other poaching cases in the same area. Information will be kept confidential and can be phoned in to the division's poaching hotline at 1- (800) 662-DEER (3337) or Central Dispatch at (801) 722-4558. There is a reward for information that leads to the conviction of anyone responsible for poaching.

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