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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Updated: Numerous fires burning in Siskiyou County Updated: Oregon Gulch fire tops 21,000 acres 1,000-acre fire scorching Trinity Alps Wilderness Crater Lake fires still burning Suspicious fire guts apartment complex overnight Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Updated: Numerous fires burning in Siskiyou County 1,000-acre fire scorching Trinity Alps Wilderness Suspicious fire guts apartment complex overnight Medford police say man was carrying a half-pound of meth Another Medford arson suspect caught, charged Politics and Elections Medford council veterans plan exit Medical marijuana patients run for council seat Former colleagues laud Atiyeh's 'practical' leadership Bates-Dotterrer race called critical to Senate control Richardson challenges Kitzhaber during debate Education Migrant student numbers soar $21 million Science Building upgrades begin at SOU Eagle Point district mulls fate of Trail school SOU Provost James Klein plans to retire Poverty standard hurts Central Point schools State news Nation - World Obituaries Walter Herman Hoffbuhr Death Notices Don Mallaghan Ethel Iris McCoy Margaret Elizabeth Powell Weather Photo Galleries Videos Sports Latest Stories Giants' Cain needs elbow surgery to remove bone chips George suffers gruesome leg injury in hoops exhibition Kansas City's Guthrie shuts down Athletics Allred climbs into tie for 11th at Barracuda LOCAL REPORT Varsity 541 College Sports Coach Riley prepares Beavers for fall camp Mannion, Beavers look to close the gap Riley's coaching longevity bucks the trend in Pac-12 His own Gary Payton Beavers hope new diet plans give them bite Pro Sports Judge OKs record-setting $2B sale of Clippers Recovered from illness, Serena ready for return Darvish, Rangers drop Yanks Even after payday, Seattle's Sherman hungry as ever Fists flying at Philly practices Community Sports LOCAL REPORT Morgan, Rogues romp past Elks Mustangs clinch spot in state title game North Medford Mavericks remain perfect LOCAL REPORT Business Latest Stories Blog: Part 2: How to Stay Cool in 100 Degree Weather Avista requests rate hike of 9.7% Blog: Study finds Oregon's exports slow to recover Contractor sweep nets 34 violations in S. 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Dining India Palace Taco Riendo Uber Herbal Coquina Restaurant Home State BBQ Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living NEWS NOW Shady Cove man faces prison in illegal poaching case A Shady Cove man faces up to 31/2 years in federal prison for helping poachers in Colorado and Utah illegally kill bobcats and cougars, some of which were caged, ensnared and even maimed to make it easier for his clients to kill them. By Mark Freeman MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Posted Jul. 30, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jul 30, 2014 at 2:07 AM By Mark Freeman Posted Jul. 30, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jul 30, 2014 at 2:07 AM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A Shady Cove man faces up to 31/2 years in federal prison for helping poachers in Colorado and Utah illegally kill bobcats and cougars, some of which were caged, ensnared and even maimed to make it easier for his clients to kill them. Nicholaus Rodgers, 31, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Denver to a single violation of the federal Lacey Act, which regulates illegal interstate hunting and trafficking of illegally obtained wildlife parts. In exchange, six other felony wildlife charges were dropped. U.S. District Judge Christine Arguello ordered Rodgers, who was out on bond and present in court Tuesday, back for sentencing Nov. 7. Federal prosecutors in court papers estimated Rodgers' likely sentence would be anywhere from a year to 41 months in federal prison, plus fines and restitution for the cougars and bobcats he helped poach. Rodgers' 31-page plea agreement includes a list of admissions to taking part in illegal hunting expeditions for mostly out-of-state clients — and one undercover federal agent — from 2007 to 2009 for Rodgers' outfitter boss, Christopher Loncarich of Colorado. Loncarich faces trial on similar charges and has a hearing scheduled to change his not guilty plea today. Rodgers used collapsible traps or snares to capture cougars in the field, then released them to be found and shot by Loncarich's unwitting clients, many of whom were unlicensed or without proper tags, the agreement states. Some of the cougars were shot in a leg before they were released from cages so they would not wander away from the clients in the area, according to court documents. Other animals were held in place by snares that were undetected by the poaching clients who shot them from a distance, the agreement states. On Feb. 6, 2009, in Utah, Loncarich allegedly shot and wounded a caged bobcat, which Rodgers then released so it could be shot and killed by a client, who happened to be an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent, according to both men's indictment. That bobcat was then taken illegally to Colorado and falsely reported as having been shot there, the indictment states. Rodgers and Loncarich were indicted in January. The indictment makes reference to four unindicted and unnamed co-conspirators, although two were identified in court papers as Loncarich's daughters and one as a son-in-law, all of whom worked for Loncarich. The fourth co-conspirator was identified only as a former guide. Lacey Act violations can result in five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 each. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has no records of Rodgers buying a hunting license in the state, and records show he has no criminal history in Southern Oregon. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected]. By Mark Freeman MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Posted Jul. 30, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jul 30, 2014 at 2:07 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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