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Fishing Illegally
Trio Caught Fishing Illegally With Large Nets
posted April 22, 2008
Three Franklin County men were sentenced to jail Monday on pleas ranging from fishing without a license to possession of cocaine. Wildlife Agency officials said they were caught fishing at night with large nets in the Tennessee River.
General Sessions Court Judge Bob Moon sentenced Romon Mendez, Guillermo Rios-Sanchez and Ne Yoo Garcia to 30 days in the workhouse for violating Tennessee wildlife statutes regulating bag/creel and fishing methods.
Tennessee Wildlife officer Matt Majors arrested the three men on April 12 for using large illegal cast nets to harvest game fish.
The officer's affidavit stated that the men possessed, "bass, red-eye bass, drum, crappie, shellcracker and bream."
Officer Majors said these violations in using illegal nets can have a devastating effect on the local fish populations.
The officer testified that the men were netting in the Tennessee River around 1 a.m. with no lights in order to avoid detection. Officer Majors also testified that all three were very proficient in using the nets and obviously had been "casting nets for a long time."
All three men gave 420 Old Cowan Road, Winchester, Tn.,as their address and stated that they were from Mexico. Each listed Don Charles Nursery in Winchester as their place of employment.
Garcia told Judge Moon that "netting is the way that we used to do it on the ranch." Judge Moon responded, "Well, in all due respect, Mr. Garcia, maybe you should have stayed on the ranch."
Judge Moon imposed a $750 fine and court costs against Mendez and ordered him to serve 90 days in the workhouse for simple possession of cocaine.
The judge also forfeited all nets and fishing equipment to the Tennessee Wildlife Agency and prohibited all three men from obtaining a fishing license for one year. Judge Moon ordered the three men to be taken into custody immediately and to begin serving their sentences.
Garcia asked if he could report to the workhouse at a later date and indicated that he had family. Judge Moon denied the request, stating, "It would seem that anyone coming to this wonderful country to enjoy the wonderful benefits that we have would at the very least obey the law, stay sober and keep far away from drugs. That is what we demand and expect of our citizens and the standard of good conduct and responsibility should be no less for you. No, Sir, your request is denied. All of you have conspired to endanger the natural resources of this state and have chosen to disregard the law. You have further chosen to engage in the scourge of cocaine and obviously associate with those undesirables who deal in it."
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"Garcia told Judge Moon that "netting is the way that we used to do it on the ranch." Judge Moon responded, "Well, in all due respect, Mr. Garcia, maybe you should have stayed on the ranch."
Thieving ********, they got what they deserved. The laws should apply equally to everyone. You are in the US, subject to US laws, and learn to SPEAK ENGLISH while you are at it! :bonk:
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How about: Your honor my client is from Peru. He chews coca leaves when he works in Peru, so that cocaine you found in his possssession is for medicinal use.
Or: my client is from Afghanistan, ther heroin you found him transporting is to be used for religious purposes only.
:laugh::laugh:
BB, you're right the laws should apply equally.
Take all the lawyers, use them to line the bottom of the sea.:idea:
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You wouldn't believe how many nets you see set up during the season if you fish IBSP, sometimes they are only 1/2 mile from shore. I say throw the book at these guys. :bonk:
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"The laws should apply equally to everyone. You are in the US, subject to US laws, and learn to SPEAK ENGLISH while you are at it!"
:clapping: :clapping:
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Those guys knew what they were doing. It's a joke when the lawyers try to pass it off as ignorance.
