C-Falls man faces illegal hunting charges
A 53-year-old Columbia Falls man faces a felony charge of outfitting without a license, along with nine misdemeanor charges associated with big game hunting in Montana several years ago.
If convicted, Timmie Stephens faces up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine for outfitting without a license. He could also have his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges taken away for a minimum of five years.
The nine misdemeanor charges include unlawful taking of big game, transportation of unlawfully taken big game, use of radios for hunting, encouraging someone to shoot game through a vehicle window, hunting big game without the landowner's permission, and hunting big game on block management lands without a license or permit.
According to court records, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks began investigating Stephens in fall 2008. An undercover agent spent several days in the field with Stephens in the Trumble Creek, Hungry Horse Reservoir, Bitterroot Lake, Lost Trail National Refuge, KM Ranch Road and Tally Lake areas.
When the investigation began Sept. 16, 2008, Stephens and his son-in-law from Martin City, "Terry," were accompanying several hunters from Wisconsin. Stephens allegedly told the undercover agent that he was not allowed to guide them but could take a tip when they were done.
Tips ranged from a couple hundred dollars if hunters were unsuccessful to $1,500 if they tagged out. He also allegedly said he had finished off a white-tailed doe that one of the hunters had gut shot.
The undercover agent accompanied Stephens on several hunting trips beginning Nov. 4, 2008. Stephens allegedly said he received $2,000 from the Wisconsin hunters after spending 10 days with them.
He allegedly said most of the hunters he helped over the years came from eastern Washington. Stephens also allegedly said he helped an underage hunter fill his tags.
On Nov. 5, 2008, the undercover agent accompanied Stephens to the Lost Trail Wildlife Refuge. Stephens allegedly said he had been confronted in the past about outfitting on the refuge, where it's not allowed. He also acknowledged that the undercover agent's B tag was for a different hunting area but the only person who would care would be a game warden.
While hunting on state lands near KM Road on Nov. 5 and 6, two-way radios were used during hunting, and the undercover agent was told to shoot a white-tailed fawn through a vehicle window. He was also told that if anyone asked where he shot any deer to say it was on Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. land near Trumbull Creek Road.
After the undercover agent intentionally missed a white-tailed doe on Tally Lake Road, Stephens allegedly talked about using different people's tags and licenses over the past 8-10 years. The undercover agent, who recorded the conversations, reportedly paid Stephens $750 by check and $250 in cash.
Starting in January this year, FWP warden Chris Crane began to call people connected with the investigation. All four said they had never paid Stephens and didn't regard him as an outfitter. Claiming their stories were inconsistent, Crane concluded the four "are not being truthful in their statements."
Court documents also include e-mail exchanges in which Stephens told a man that in the past he had received $500 per person from groups and $1,000 per person when hunting with only one person.
When interviewed by FWP agents at his home in Columbia Falls, Stephens allegedly said he received money for fuel, motels and dinner when he accompanied hunters. He allegedly said he never received a tip larger than $100 or $200, although he never asked for a tip. He also allegedly said he wasn't sure what classified as outfitting.
Investigators said they believed Stephens was putting his outfitting money in a safe so as not to jeopardize his Social Security disability payments.