Not sure if this was previously posted on IW. I couldn't remember seeing it. I found it in The Plain Outdoors paper, volume 3. I picked the paper up at a Casey's general store tonight. You can check it out online at www.plainoutdoors.com in volume 3.
You have to wonder...Is getting an Iowa buck tag worth loosing your job as a South Carolina State Tropper? You also have to ask...How many others are doing the same thing that haven't been caught yet?
Two South Carolina Law Officers Plead Guilty to Iowa Charges
You have to wonder...Is getting an Iowa buck tag worth loosing your job as a South Carolina State Tropper? You also have to ask...How many others are doing the same thing that haven't been caught yet?
Two South Carolina Law Officers Plead Guilty to Iowa Charges
WEST UNION, Iowa -Two South Carolina law enforcement officers
pleaded guilty to falsely claiming Iowa residency to obtain in-state hunting
licenses. Charges were filed against Kester “Kess” Holmes, 33, and
Phillip Lee Morris, 34, both of Saluda, S.C., last fall. Holmes plead guilty to
four counts of making false claims to obtain resident Iowa deer licenses,
and one count of making false claims to obtain an Iowa resident turkey license.
Holmes was sentenced to pay maximum fines and court costs, as
well as liquidated damages for illegally taken game, and make restitution to
the Iowa DNR for the difference between resident and non-resident license fees.
In addition, Holmes was ordered by the court to return two
sets of buck deer antlers to the Iowa DNR, and lost his hunting
and fishing privileges in Iowa for five years. His fines, costs and
restitution will exceed $9,000. Holmes is a deputy sheriff in
Saluda County, S.C.
Morris plead guilty to four counts of hunting and possessing
game without valid resident Iowa deer licenses and was ordered
to pay the maximum fines, court costs, as well as $4,000
in liquidated damages for illegally taken wild game, and
$1,400 restitution to the Iowa DNR for the difference between
resident and non-resident license fees. The court further ordered
Morris to return two sets of buck deer antlers to the
Iowa DNR, and suspended his hunting and fishing privileges in
Iowa for five years.
Morris was also charged with falsifying information to obtain
an Iowa driver’s license, to which he also pleaded guilty and
received a suspended jail sentence, and was ordered to pay
court costs and fees. Morris, a state trooper, was dismissed
from the South Carolina State Patrol.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer
Dave Elledge received information on Morris and Holmes a few
years ago, which began the investigation. The two stayed in an
old rural farm house they used as camp, on the Fayette-Clayton
County line.
“Any time an investigation involves law enforcement personnel,
extra care and caution must be taken, in all aspects of the
case,” Elledge said “Confidentiality is of utmost importance,
due to the fact one is dealing with individuals who are savvy to
investigative techniques.
Several officers from northeast Iowa, as well as other DNR personnel
assisted in the cases. Iowa DNR officers also received
cooperation in the cases from the Special Investigations Unit of
the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Enforcement
Bureau.
The cases were prosecuted by Nathan Lein, assistant county
attorney for Fayette County, Iowa and Susan Krisko, of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.
pleaded guilty to falsely claiming Iowa residency to obtain in-state hunting
licenses. Charges were filed against Kester “Kess” Holmes, 33, and
Phillip Lee Morris, 34, both of Saluda, S.C., last fall. Holmes plead guilty to
four counts of making false claims to obtain resident Iowa deer licenses,
and one count of making false claims to obtain an Iowa resident turkey license.
Holmes was sentenced to pay maximum fines and court costs, as
well as liquidated damages for illegally taken game, and make restitution to
the Iowa DNR for the difference between resident and non-resident license fees.
In addition, Holmes was ordered by the court to return two
sets of buck deer antlers to the Iowa DNR, and lost his hunting
and fishing privileges in Iowa for five years. His fines, costs and
restitution will exceed $9,000. Holmes is a deputy sheriff in
Saluda County, S.C.
Morris plead guilty to four counts of hunting and possessing
game without valid resident Iowa deer licenses and was ordered
to pay the maximum fines, court costs, as well as $4,000
in liquidated damages for illegally taken wild game, and
$1,400 restitution to the Iowa DNR for the difference between
resident and non-resident license fees. The court further ordered
Morris to return two sets of buck deer antlers to the
Iowa DNR, and suspended his hunting and fishing privileges in
Iowa for five years.
Morris was also charged with falsifying information to obtain
an Iowa driver’s license, to which he also pleaded guilty and
received a suspended jail sentence, and was ordered to pay
court costs and fees. Morris, a state trooper, was dismissed
from the South Carolina State Patrol.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer
Dave Elledge received information on Morris and Holmes a few
years ago, which began the investigation. The two stayed in an
old rural farm house they used as camp, on the Fayette-Clayton
County line.
“Any time an investigation involves law enforcement personnel,
extra care and caution must be taken, in all aspects of the
case,” Elledge said “Confidentiality is of utmost importance,
due to the fact one is dealing with individuals who are savvy to
investigative techniques.
Several officers from northeast Iowa, as well as other DNR personnel
assisted in the cases. Iowa DNR officers also received
cooperation in the cases from the Special Investigations Unit of
the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Enforcement
Bureau.
The cases were prosecuted by Nathan Lein, assistant county
attorney for Fayette County, Iowa and Susan Krisko, of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.
