Two Oregon judges skip restitution in sheep poaching cases

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Two Oregon judges have ruled that three men caught with the heads of bighorn sheep won’t have to each pay thousands of dollars in penalties.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (https://is.gd/DFY8NY) two men were convicted of illegally taking or possessing wildlife in Gilliam County and the other defendant was in an unrelated case in Wasco County.

Gilliam County Judge John Olson wrote that the state’s anti-poaching law explicitly allows the State Fish and Wildlife Commission to file a lawsuit for $25,000 per sheep from the men. He said it doesn’t say a judge can order the defendants to pay.

Meanwhile, Wasco County Judge Janet Stauffer said the prosecution hadn’t proven that the crime directly resulted in the loss of $25,000 in tangible economic damages to the state.