ARKADELPHIA - In one of Arkansas’s more flagrant poaching cases, James Pradaxay of Mabelvale pleaded guilty to various charges after he was caught with eight deer on the opening day of the modern gun deer season. He was caught near the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Big Timber Leased Lands Wildlife Management Area in Clark County.
Pradaxay pleaded guilty to five counts of taking over the limit of deer, two counts of wasting edible portions, three counts of failure to tag deer, one count of hunting on lands without permission and two counts of not meeting legal buck requirements. County District Judge Randy Hill fined Pradaxay $4,965 in fines and court costs. He also lost his hunting and fishing privileges for 10 years with four years of the 10 suspended if he completes six years of probation. He must also complete 200 hours of community service.
During the six years probation Pradaxay is not allowed to posses a firearm. As a way to confirm that he does not have any firearms, he also signed a consent to search his vehicles and residence as part of his probation. The Winchester 30-06 used by Pradaxay also was confiscated.
AGFC Assistant Chief of Enforcement Chris Carpenter applauded Judge Hill’s actions. “It is great to see a district judge take actions such as these for wildlife crimes of this magnitude. This sentencing will send a clear message to the sportsmen of Arkansas. The legal system does work to their advantage and truly punishes violators who steal from them. I applaud Judge Hill for his obvious dedication to the wildlife of this state,” Carpenter said.
Pradaxay’s hunting odyssey began when officers responded to a trespassing complaint on a private hunting lease. AGFC wildlife officer Sgt. Robert Barger met with a hunter who had caught three men with deer he believed had been taken on his lease in Clark County. His lease bordered the Big Timber Leased Lands WMA, where the other hunters claimed they were hunting. Barger immediately noticed the three hunters had four deer in their possession - a nine-point, two eight-points and a spike - none of which had been tagged.
When the suspects began to lie about where they were hunting and refused to cooperate, Barger called for assistance from Cpl. Tod Johnson and his K-9 officer Carly, an enforcement dog specially trained for tracking and game location. While waiting for the K-9 unit to arrive, Barger searched the surrounding area and found additional deer. In all, eight dead deer were found in the area.