CHILLIWACK - A seven-month investigation into illegal hunting and fishing on the Fraser and Harrison rivers has resulted in two more people being fined in Chilliwack provincial court.

Gregory Larson of Chilliwack was ordered to pay $7,400 after pleading guilty May 23 to guiding hunters without a licence and using another person's hunting licence to kill a black bear.

Larson was fined a total of $1,000 and ordered to repay $400 paid by undercover officers for guiding services. He must also pay $6,000 to the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund and forfeit his rifle to the Crown.   

In a separate case concluded May 22, Dean Goodey of Chilliwack pleaded guilty to charges of angling guiding without a licence and offering to angle guide without a licence. Goodey was ordered to pay a total of $3,540, which included a $1,000 fine and repayment of $540 paid by undercover officers for guiding services. He must also pay $2,000 to the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund to aid the recovery, enhancement and preservation of sturgeon in the Fraser River and associated waters.

The maximum penalty for illegal guiding under the provincial Wildlife Act is a fine of $50,000 and a prison term of six months.

The two cases conclude an investigation from February to July 2000 by Lower Mainland conservation officers and the special investigation unit of the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Seven people pleaded guilty to illegal angling and hunting guiding charges. They were ordered to pay a total of $32,525 and to forfeit fishing and hunting gear.

Through the Observe, Record, Report program, British Columbians are urged to combat illegal fishing and hunting. Anyone with evidence of suspected illegal activity is asked to call the toll-free line at 1-800-663- WILD (9453). All information will be kept confidential.

Media contact:

Bill Bresser,
Manager, Special Investigations Unit
Enforcement Branch
Victoria
(250) 952-4118