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Local businesses say crime predates defendants employment
By:Anna Lee Welty February 07, 2008
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Allen W. Blevins, of Knoxville, Tenn., entered a guilty plea in federal court Monday, Feb. 4 for illegally killing and transporting white-tailed deer, a misdemeanor violation of the Lacey Act, a federal wildlife law. Blevins was a previous employee of Hadley Creek Outfitters in Pike County. A press release issued by the Midwest Region External Affairs Office stated that Blevins was listed as the president of Whitetail Investment Properties, another Pike County firm. Blevins is also a founding partner of Whitetail Properties TV in Pittsfield.
Two of the local businesses stated that they had no association with Blevins at the time of the incident.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Byron Cudmore accepted Blevins' plea. As part of the plea agreement, Blevins received a $7500 fine that will be paid to the U.S. Clerk's office for the benefit of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Blevins must also forfeit the three antlered mounts. Blevins was not sentenced to imprisonment or probation.
Blevins admitted to killing a 10-point white tail deer with a bow in October 2004 on property owned/leased by Hadley Creek Outfitters in Pike County. After killing the deer, Blevins did not tag the deer with a valid 2004 temporary deer harvest tag as was required by Illinois law. Blevins then transported the untagged buck from Illinois to Tennessee where he falsely registered the deer as being killed in Putnam County, Tenn. Blevins would go on to kill two more antlered deer, an 8-point and 10-point, in November 2004. All three deer were displayed in the 2004 Hadley Creek Outfitters photo gallery for promotional purposes. The mounts were also displayed in public for other promotional reasons on Blevins' behalf.
Stacy Ward with Hadley Creek Outfitters stated that the incident happened in 2004 prior to Blevins' involvement with Hadley Creek Outfitters. Ward also commented, "Hadley Creek Outfitters had no knowledge or involvement with Mr. Blevins' activities."
Dan Perez with Whitetail Properties TV stated that Whitetail Properties TV has no connection to Whitetail Investment Properties. He said, "This incident occurred in 2004, prior to Blevins' involvement with Whitetail Properties TV. We have not been able to fully discuss this incident with Mr. Blevins and do not have knowledge of what actually took place at this time."
Whitetail Investment Properties, located in Barry, could not be contacted for comment, as their listed phone number had been disconnected.
Blevins' guilty plea is the result of an investigation into illegal hunting conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Tim Santel said, "The willingness of the U.S. Attorney's Office to prosecute cases such as this one helps us protect our nation's natural resources. If all self-professed hunters acted with blatant disregard for wildlife laws as Blevins did, there would be no trophy animals left to hunt."
By:Anna Lee Welty February 07, 2008
Email to a friend Voice your opinion
Allen W. Blevins, of Knoxville, Tenn., entered a guilty plea in federal court Monday, Feb. 4 for illegally killing and transporting white-tailed deer, a misdemeanor violation of the Lacey Act, a federal wildlife law. Blevins was a previous employee of Hadley Creek Outfitters in Pike County. A press release issued by the Midwest Region External Affairs Office stated that Blevins was listed as the president of Whitetail Investment Properties, another Pike County firm. Blevins is also a founding partner of Whitetail Properties TV in Pittsfield.
Two of the local businesses stated that they had no association with Blevins at the time of the incident.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Byron Cudmore accepted Blevins' plea. As part of the plea agreement, Blevins received a $7500 fine that will be paid to the U.S. Clerk's office for the benefit of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Blevins must also forfeit the three antlered mounts. Blevins was not sentenced to imprisonment or probation.
Blevins admitted to killing a 10-point white tail deer with a bow in October 2004 on property owned/leased by Hadley Creek Outfitters in Pike County. After killing the deer, Blevins did not tag the deer with a valid 2004 temporary deer harvest tag as was required by Illinois law. Blevins then transported the untagged buck from Illinois to Tennessee where he falsely registered the deer as being killed in Putnam County, Tenn. Blevins would go on to kill two more antlered deer, an 8-point and 10-point, in November 2004. All three deer were displayed in the 2004 Hadley Creek Outfitters photo gallery for promotional purposes. The mounts were also displayed in public for other promotional reasons on Blevins' behalf.
Stacy Ward with Hadley Creek Outfitters stated that the incident happened in 2004 prior to Blevins' involvement with Hadley Creek Outfitters. Ward also commented, "Hadley Creek Outfitters had no knowledge or involvement with Mr. Blevins' activities."
Dan Perez with Whitetail Properties TV stated that Whitetail Properties TV has no connection to Whitetail Investment Properties. He said, "This incident occurred in 2004, prior to Blevins' involvement with Whitetail Properties TV. We have not been able to fully discuss this incident with Mr. Blevins and do not have knowledge of what actually took place at this time."
Whitetail Investment Properties, located in Barry, could not be contacted for comment, as their listed phone number had been disconnected.
Blevins' guilty plea is the result of an investigation into illegal hunting conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Tim Santel said, "The willingness of the U.S. Attorney's Office to prosecute cases such as this one helps us protect our nation's natural resources. If all self-professed hunters acted with blatant disregard for wildlife laws as Blevins did, there would be no trophy animals left to hunt."
