Utah town mayor John Wayne Bramall pleaded guilty last week to helping mule deer poachers illegally hunt in a high fence elk only area. Bramall, who currently serves as mayor of Hurricane, Utah, owns the “high fence area” property where the incident occurred. Under state law, elk hunting is allowed within the property boundaries; other animals are protected.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Bramall permitted two men to illegally hunt mule deer on his property on Oct. 22, 2016; however, once Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) saw the men leave the property, two were promptly arrested following a traffic stop sting while Bramall drove away in a different vehicle. Bramall was later arrested and booked on charges on Oct. 27, but posted bail and was released.
Bramall pleaded guilty to two counts of class A misdemeanor aiding or assisting the wanton destruction of protected wildlife. While he was sentenced to a year in jail per count, it was suspended. Instead, Bramall must complete 18 months of probation; he must also pay a $500 fine and $4,200 in restitution to the Help Stop Poaching Fund, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
Thanks to this embarrassing and unethical crime, whether Bramall continues as mayor is up to the town of Hurricane.
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