Mail Tribune News - Outdoors guide faces Nev. charges

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2000-07-09

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Outdoors guide faces Nev. charges By MARK FREEMAN A Medford hunting and fishing guide under federal indictments for alleged poaching was arrested on a felony theft charge Wednesday in Reno for allegedly stealing almost $2,000 worth of tickets and passes at a national hunting club's convention. William "Bill" Danielson, 45, allegedly snatched six ticket packages from the registration table at the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep convention in Reno, police said. The packages, which include everything from drink and meal tickets to entry passes to all of the FNAWS auctions and shows, cost convention-goers $325 apiece. Danielson apparently thought no one was looking when he reached over a convention registration counter and grabbed the six packages about 9:40 a.m. Wednesday, Reno police Sgt. D.J. Della said. But an undercover Reno police detective, who is part of a squad assigned to policing the four-day convention, witnessed the alleged incident, Della said. The detective quickly arrested Danielson, who had placed the stolen tickets into one of his pockets, Della said. Danielson was taken into custody on one count of grand larceny, Della said. Grand larceny is a C felony in Nevada and covers thefts whose value ranges from $250 to $2,500, he said. If convicted on the charge, Danielson faces a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of five years in prison, plus a fine of up to $10,000, according to Nevada statutes. Danielson was booked into the Washoe County Jail in Reno on Wednesday morning, then released on $2,500 bail later that afternoon, police said. Danielson could not be reached for comment. He is set to appear Feb. 9 in a Reno municipal courtroom, a jail spokeswoman said. The charges allege violations of the Lacey Act, a federal wildlife law that bans selling, buying or transporting across state lines any fish or wildlife taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of state law. Under the act, it is also illegal to sell or buy guiding services for the purpose of violating state laws. The federal charges stem from hunting trips in 1995, when Danielson allegedly guided out-of-state hunters who shot blacktail deer without licenses and tags, according Danielson's 1998 indictment. Danielson has denied any wrongdoing in the federal case. Danielson faces up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each count if convicted on the federal charges. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA