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Pagosa Springs man pleads guilty to wildlife charges

Investigation spanned several years
A Pagosa man and his brother have been found guilty of a variety of wildlife charges including poaching on federal land. This photo shows some forfeited items from the case.

A Pagosa Springs man and his brother have been found guilty of a variety of wildlife charges including illegal baiting of wildlife on the Front Range.

Parks and Wildlife officers from Colorado and Kansas investigated the brothers over several years based on tips about illegal bait sites, the agency announced in a statement Thursday.

Torry Hessman of Pagosa Springs pleaded guilty to illegal possession of one cow elk and the unlawful use of a motor vehicle on U.S. Forest Service lands. He was fined about $1,600 and given 25 points which could suspend his hunting privileges for up to five years.

His brother, William Hessman of Kansas, pleaded guilty to 15 charges including: illegal possession of an elk, deer, bear, bobcat and turkeys; unlawful use of bait; hunting without the proper license; and unlawfully operating a motor vehicle on federal lands.

William forfeited several items to CPW including his ATV, trail cameras, tree stands and compound bow. He paid the Forest Service $740 in restitution for damage caused by driving ATV’s off trail and paid about $12,000 in other wildlife fines and court costs. His hunting privileges also have been suspended for life.

Wildlife officers first found evidence the two had set up bait sites for game in 2011.

After receiving a tip, Teller County District Wildlife Manager Tonya Sharp first found a bait located near the Pike National Forest. Sharp found hay, a mineral block and a large metal stock tank on William Hessman’s property.

“If it wasn’t for this person’s tip, we may never have discovered that this was going on,” Sharp said.

Nearly a year later, Sharp received another tip about a bait site a mile east of William Hessman’s residence and in the Pike National Forest.

Following the tips, wildlife officers conducted surveillance over three years, through September 2013. The investigation involved 14 Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers as well as officers with Kansas Parks and Wildlife.

Ultimately, a total of six bait sites were located both on private property and on federal lands. A search warrant of William’s property on Sept. 14, 2013, resulted in more evidence and the addition of several new charges

To report a poaching case or wildlife violation, contact Operation Game Thief at (877) 265-6648 or email game.thief@state.co.us

mshinn@durangoherald.com



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