Monday, Nov 6, 2006
On November 2nd, Steven Nowatak, 27, and Travis Kernak, 21, both residents of Kokhanok, were each sentenced in federal court in Anchorage to 30 days imprisonment and a year’s probation, including 40 hours of community service, upon their conviction for killing brown bears in the park. On separate occasions in late July and early August, 2004, Nowatak and Kernak traveled by ATV from Kokhanok to Funnel Creek, an area used by flight-seeing services and lodges for bear viewing and fishing. Along the creek, each shot two brown bears, leaving the animals to go to waste without harvesting the hides, meat, or heads. Prior to imposing sentence, the magistrate judge noted that Alaska provides a unique opportunity to view wildlife, including brown bears, in their natural habitat, and that the animals need to be protected from illegal hunting. U.S. attorney Nelson Cohen commended the NPS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska State Troopers, and the state’s Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory for their work in the investigation.
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