CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department say that two Dubois men have been sentenced after being convicted on poaching related charges.
Spencer Carrico received his first conviction for wildlife related crimes, while Kelly J. Grove had been convicted on two prior occasions. The two were found guilty on different charges related to the illegal taking of an elk and a deer.
In addition to being sentenced for his crimes by Fremont County Circuit Court Judge Robert Denhardt, Grove will appear in United States District Court for “violating his federal probation by committing another wildlife crime while on probation from the illegal take of [a] grizzly bear.”
“This man has a shocking history of violations,” Fremont County Chief Deputy and prosecuting attorney Ember Oakley said of Grove. “He’s been convicted of wanton waste of animals, including a bighorn sheep, he’s attempted to shoot the antlers off of live deer, he was on federal probation for game violations when he committed this crime and more.”
Because it was Carrico’s first wildlife related offence, Game and Fish say that he was given a lighter sentence by Denhardt, though he was the primary defendant in the case.
“The case itself began on the evening of November 10, 2018 when Carrico and Grove were coming down the Union Pass Road west of Dubois in Grove’s truck,” Wyoming Game and Fish said in the April 10 release.
Using Grove’s rifle, Game and Fish say that Carrico shot a cow elk.
“The men were unable to locate the elk after searching for it and were unsure if Carrico had mortally wounded the animal,” the release adds. “The next day, both men, again in Grove’s truck, spotted a doe mule deer off the East Fork Road northeast of Dubois.”
“Grove again handed his rifle to Carrico who shot the doe from the road and inside the truck on a dare from Grove. The men loaded the deer whole into the truck, drove down the road a distance, pulled over, and gutted the deer. They took the deer home and quartered the animal. Both men had been drinking when they shot the animals, and neither man had an elk or a deer license in 2018.”
Denhardt found Grove guilty of two counts of accessory before and after the fact for taking elk and deer without a license. He also was found guilty on one count of accessory before or after the fact in taking of big game from a vehicle.
“The prosecution dismissed two charges including accessory before or after the fact of shooting from a roadway and interference with a peace officer in a plea bargain reached with Mr. Grove,” Game and Fish says. “Through the sentencing, Fremont County Circuit Court Judge Robert Denhardt sent a strong message to Grove to stop his poaching behavior and take responsibility for his actions.”
“Judge Denhardt ordered him to pay a total of $6,365 in fines, assessments, and restitution, to spend one year in jail with 7 days credit for time already served, and three years supervised probation upon his release.”
Grove also saw his hunting and fishing privileges suspended for 18 years in Wyoming and 44 other states. He was also required to forfeit his Remington 700 .300 Ultra Mag bolt action rifle.
Carrico pled guilty to two violations of taking an elk and a deer without a license.
“The prosecution dismissed the counts of take big game from a vehicle and shooting from a roadway in a plea bargain reached with Mr. Carrico,” Game and Fish says. “Judge Denhardt ordered Mr. Carrico to pay $6,110 in fines, assessment, and restitution and suspended his hunting and fishing privileges for four years in Wyoming and 44 other states. Carrico was ordered to one year unsupervised probation and sentenced to 90 days in jail, which were suspended.”
“This was Carrico’s first wildlife violation, he was cooperative with the officers conducting the investigation, admitted his role in the crime, and took responsibility for his actions. Grove did not take responsibility for his role, tampered with evidence, and is a repeat wildlife violator with two previous serious violations and several minor infractions.”
Game and Fish add that Grove had been placed on federal probation for illegally taking threatened wildlife (a grizzly bear) “just months before he and Carrico committed these most recent crimes.”
“In 2018, he and another man, Matthew Brooks, formerly of Dubois, were both found guilty for their roles in the illegal take of a grizzly bear north of Dubois in 2015,” Game and Fish says. “Grove was ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution and his hunting privileges were suspended worldwide for five years. Eight other charges against him in the grizzly bear case were dismissed, and his Remington 700 .300 Ultra Mag bolt action rifle was also confiscated in that case but returned 2 months before he handed it to Carrico to shoot the elk and deer.”
“Grove also pled guilty August 2007 to being an accessory to taking a bighorn ram without a license, waste/abandonment of a bighorn sheep, two counts each of waste of an elk and deer, and two counts each of false oath to obtain resident big game licenses.”
Game and Fish ask people to help report wildlife crimes if they witness them.
“Anyone can report a wildlife crime, and the Stop Poaching program is an opportunity for you to help protect your wildlife resource,” Game and Fish says. “You can report violations and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847), by texting keyword WGFD and your message to TIP411 (847-411), or reporting online.”
