Trophy buck poaching ring busted

FAIRFIELD - Three southeast Iowa men face more than $100,000 in fines for their roles in poaching trophy deer and multiple counts of selling their antlers in Jefferson, Van Buren and Henry counties.

"They were selling antlers, extremely large antlers. The biggest set had a gross score of more than 200 inches," said Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Chris Flynn.

"I can't go into the nuts and bolts of it, but some of the antlers had selling prices in the thousands of dollars," he said.

Flynn said the case will likely rank among the state's top deer poaching cases.

In the state's best known case, George Waters of West Branch pleaded guilty in 2003 to poaching 45 trophy-quality deer and elk valued at $270,000 in Iowa and Colorado. In a 2005 Decatur County case, DNR officers confiscated 52 deer heads or skull plates with antlers.

Flynn said the investigation, which had been under way for several years, began with complaints called in by hunters, landowners and concerned citizens. Wednesday's arrests, he said, will not likely be the last in the case.

Brad Johnson, 38, of Fairfield, was charged with four counts of unlawful commercialization of wildlife, serious misdemeanors; unlawful taking of antlered deer, unlawful transportation of deer, unlawful taking of turkey and other wildlife related charges. Johnson was charged in Jefferson and in Van Buren counties. He faces $51,302.50 in fines and liquidated damages.

Shae McCabe, 32, of Fairfield, was charged with unlawful taking of antlered deer, abandonment of wildlife, two counts of unlawful commercialization of wildlife, unlawful taking of turkey and other wildlife related charges. He faces $31,328.50 in fines and liquidated damages.

Southep Souchanh, 38, of Mount Pleasant, was charged with unlawful possession of deer and 145 counts of unlawful possession of squirrels. He faces $25,932.50 in fines and liquidated damages.

Flynn said officers served a search warrant on the Johnson and McCabe residence on Dec. 9. The evidence collected includes multiple trophy class deer allegedly illegally harvested and sold.

Flynn led the investigation that included more than 20 additional conservation officers and officers with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.