Young men plead guilty to poaching charges

Two of the four young men from Columbia Falls charged with poaching 19 white-tailed deer near Whitefish in 2012 have pleaded guilty to reduced charges and were sentenced in Flathead County Justice Court.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game wardens filed the charges against Chase Wilson, 20, Tyler Kellar, 19, Dillan Erickson, 19, and Paul West, 19, on Sept. 27, 2013.

The misdemeanor charges included waste of game, using artificial light to hunt big game, unlawful possession of big game animals, and hunting during a closed season. All four initially pleaded not guilty.

Wilson pleaded guilty to seven of his 75 initial charges on Feb. 20.

He was ordered to pay a total of $5,240 in fines and restitution.

Kellar pleaded guilty to four of his 41 initial charges on Feb. 25.

He was ordered to pay $1,900 in fines.

Erickson faces 81 charges. He has an omnibus hearing scheduled for May 27.

West faces 14 charges. He has a change-of-plea hearing scheduled for May 13.