3 more out-of-state men sentenced in deer-poaching case

Three more out-of-state men pleaded guilty and were sentenced Monday for their parts in what some wildlife officials have called the biggest trophy deer-poaching case in history.

In U.S. District Court in Wichita, Bert Stelly, Amaudville, La.; Ryan Pinkston, Center, Texas, and Tim Metcalf, Lafayette, La., plead guilty to violating the Lacey Act, according to a U.S. District Court news release. The Lacey Act prohibits transporting illegally-taken animals across state borders and is a federal crime.

This brings to 25 the number of people charged with a variety of hunting-related violations while hunting trophy deer out of Camp Lone Star in Comanche County.

As had other defendants, all three men on Monday were given fines and will not be allowed to hunt, trap or guide for several years.

Stelly must pay $14,000 in fines and restitution and may not hunt for two years. Pinkston is to pay $8,000 and forgo hunting for two years. Metcalf is to pay $3,500 and may not hunt for one year.

Last year, Camp Lone Star owner James Butler was fined $50,000 and sentenced to 41 months in federal prison. His brother, Marlin Butler, was fined $20,000 and sentenced to a little more than two years in prison.

Their sentences are under appeal.

This story was originally published July 31, 2012 at 5:00 AM with the headline "3 more out-of-state men sentenced in deer-poaching case."