On April 11th, after the completion of a plea deal, sentencing took place in Sitka Court for the 2009 Defense of Live/Property shooting of a Brown Bear in Katlian Bay.

It was on October 11, 2009 that 49-year-old Patrick Hughes of Sitka shot and killed a Brown Bear in Katlian Bay in defense of life and property after it charged him. Although it is legal to do so in the state of Alaska, Hughes failed to report the kill as such.  Hughes did not report the DLP kill to authorities and turn the bear over to the authorities as required.

Instead, Hughes would, after the fact, obtain a Brown Bear permit and tags and claim the bear as a hunting kill. He provided false information to the d Department of Fish and Game and claimed that he had shot the bear on a different date as the actual kill. He did so in order to keep the bear rather than turn it over.

But, on February 5th, 2014, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers received a Wildlife Safeguard Tip indicating the truth behind the kill. On February 8th, 2014, Hughes was issued a summons  for one count of Failing to Report a DLP, two counts of Unsworn Falsification II, and one count of Unlawful Possession.

In court on April 11th, Hughes pleaded out to one count of Unsworn Falsification II and one count of Unlawful Possession. As a result, the other charges against him were dropped.

Subsequently, Hughes was fined a total of $4,500, of which $3,000 was suspended. Hughes was also ordered to forfeit the skull and hide of the animal. Hughes was also placed on probation for a period of two years, during which time, he cannot participate in any bear hunts.

  Alaska, bear, cout, defense, kill, sentencing, sitka