December 2, 2022 |
A Saratoga man charged with intentionally taking a big game animal out of season failed to reach a settlement with Carbon County prosecutors during a plea deal conference this week.
As reported by Bigfoot 99, Tom Arthur was issued a citation by a Wyoming Game and Fish Warden for illegally shooting a trophy buck deer in September before the start of rifle season. The citation issued to Arthur states that on September 10th, he “did intentionally take antlered big game during a closed season.”
Arthur met with prosecutors on Tuesday morning but according to Carbon County Circuit Court’s office, the parties were unable to come to an agreement. Arthur’s attorney, Jason M. Tangeman, of Nicholas & Tangeman law firm in Laramie, has requested another settlement conference be held. Annette Green with the clerk’s office said a date has not been set.
Pictured above: File photo of a mule deer.
The failure to reach an agreement this week suggests that Arthur and his legal team are not happy with the deal the county prosecutor offered the defendant. If the two sides are unable to broker a plea deal, a trial will be scheduled for early next year.
Arthur is the owner of the Upper Cedar Creek Ranch east of Saratoga on County Road 504. According to the coordinates listed on the citation issued to Arthur by the game warden on September 12, the location of the illegal kill was identified as the northern border of Arthur’s property close to the southern edge of the Condict Ranch.
“All wildlife in Wyoming is the property of the state,” according to state law, Title 23-1-103.
Court documents show that Arthur has met with Carbon County prosecutors twice. Deputy prosecutor, Mark Nugent may be playing hardball with Arthur’s attorneys and not offering the lesser charges their client would like. Arthur’s attorney was not available for comment.
Area hunters are watching the case closely, largely because the man accused is a wealthy landowner. Bigfoot 99 will have more updates as the case progresses.
