In May of 2017, a Park County Wyoming hunter shot and killed what he believed to be a black bear. Following state law, he took the bear to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to register his kill.
As reported by KGAB, The Game and Fish officer quickly realized that William Kenneth Stoner had actually shot a female grizzly bear, which is protected under the Endangered Species List.
During the investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s office learned that Stoner was actually a felon in possession of a firearm, an offense punishable by fines up to $275,000 and up to 10 years imprisonment. Stoner plead guilty to both the illegal harvest of a grizzly bear and felony possession of a firearm.
The U.S. District Court Judge ordered Stoner to pay a $5,000 fine, $25,000 in restitution and special assessments of $110.