Muscatine Man Faces Multiple Charges, Fines

[IowaTIP]

Muscatine Man Faces Multiple Charges, Fines
Posted: December 3, 2008

MUSCATINE - A Muscatine man faces 75 charges and over $6,000.00 dollars in fines after being cited with numerous waterfowl hunting violations on Tuesday.

Tyler A. Wilson, age 19, of Muscatine was charged following a lengthy investigation by conservation officers from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Wilson was charged with five counts each of hunting without a valid hunting license, hunting without the wildlife habitat fee, hunting ducks without the state migratory bird fee, and hunting ducks without a federal duck stamp. The violations are alleged to have occurred at a private hunting area in Louisa County during the early Iowa duck hunting season between September 20 – 24, 2008.

In addition, Wilson faces additional charges of 13 counts each of hunting without a valid hunting license while under suspension, hunting without the wildlife habitat fee while under suspension, hunting ducks without the state migratory bird fee while under suspension, and hunting ducks without a federal duck stamp while under suspension. These violations are alleged to have occurred at the same private hunting area in Louisa County on 10 different dates between October 18 – November 2, 2008 as well as three different dates between November 18 – 21, 2008 at the Lake Odessa Public Hunting Area in Louisa County. Wilson was also charged with unlawfully taking a pintail duck and unlawful transportation of waterfowl after one of the alleged incidents at Lake Odessa on November 18, 2008.

On Saturday, November 29th, an Iowa conservation officer seized a 20-foot aluminum jon boat and trailer, outboard motor, 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, numerous duck decoys, duck calls, and other items from Wilson at his residence in Muscatine. During the search at Wilson’s residence, DNR officials recovered a loaded 12-gauge shotgun. Wilson was charged with having a loaded shotgun in a motor vehicle on a public highway in Muscatine County in connection with that incident.

According to the DNR, Wilson’s hunting privileges were suspended for one year on September 29, 2008 after he was convicted of four different hunting violations in Louisa County in 2007 and 2008. The DNR credits a concerned citizen who contacted the TIP (Turn In Poachers) hotline and provided information which led to the investigation and the current charges being filed against Wilson. Wilson is facing a court date in Muscatine County on December 15, 2008 for the firearms charge. A second court date is set in Louisa County on December 17, 2008 for the waterfowl hunting violations.

DNR officials stress that the charges are merely accusations and that Wilson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.