Cody MILLER, Dylan MILLER, and Brian PHILPOTT, all from Glide, Oregon pled guilty or no contest to criminal charges filed in Douglas County Circuit Court for Hunting in Violation of Criminal Trespass and Unlawful Take/Possession of a Trophy Bull Elk; which was poached on September 4, 2017. The investigation conducted by Roseburg Area Fish and Wildlife Troopers determined the three men had taken a co-workers “work only” authorized key without asking permission and entered Roseburg Forest Products (RFP) property through a locked gate; which was clearly posted “No Trespassing Area Closed to all Public Use” due to level four fire restrictions. All three men and two juveniles drove in approximately three miles behind the locked gate to hunt and retrieve the elk, knowing the property was closed to all public use. On January 29, 2018, Cody MILLER, who shot and claimed the elk, entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to pay an $8100 share of the $15,000 trophy bull elk restitution, $500 TIP fund restitution, $552 meat processing fees, forfeit his bow, forfeit the elk, three year hunting license suspension, and either 10 days in jail or work crew in lieu of jail time. On March 12, 2018, Dylan MILLER, who also shot the elk, entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to pay a $3450 share of the $15,000 trophy bull elk restitution, received a three year hunting license suspension, and either 10 days in jail or work crew in lieu of jail time. On March 9, 2018, Brian PHILPOTT, who took part in the hunt, processing, and loading of the elk, entered a no contest plea and was sentenced to pay a $3450 share of the $15,000 trophy bull elk restitution, received a three year hunting license suspension, and either 10 days in jail or work crew in lieu of jail time. The sentences will allow the men to assist Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) with local habitat restoration projects during the completion of their 10 days of assigned work crew if they so choose.
