State Fish and Game authorities on Saturday arrested a south Sacramento couple for allegedly taking part in what was described as a rare but significant deer poaching operation.
The arrests of Lafoo Saeteurn, 41, and his girlfriend, Merry Nian Saechao, 61, were the culmination of a seven-month investigation that involved roughly a dozen officers from the state's Department of Fish and Game, said Patrick Foy, a warden with the department.
According to Foy, the suspects were part of a larger group that included two other people arrested on similar charges in May.
"What is so significant is that they are killing so many deer and selling them for personal profit," Foy said.
He said most cases of deer poaching involve individuals killing the animals for their own consumption.
The pair arrested Saturday are suspected of shooting deer in El Dorado, Placer and Amador counties. Foy said they shot the deer out of season and at night, which is illegal.
The season runs for 37 days during September and October.
The couple were "turning around and selling (the deer meat) on the black market," Foy said. He said in most cases of deer poaching where the meat is sold, it goes to family members or neighbors.
Authorities said there was no evidence that the meat was being sold to local markets. Foy said the suspects were selling the deer for $150 apiece.
"There is a network of people who know what's for sale and the costs," Foy said.
The remains of seven deer and "a couple hundred pounds of deer meat" were found at the home in the 7400 block of Elder Creek Road that the suspects were renting, according to Foy.
He said it was "impossible to tell" Saturday how many deer the couple were suspected of killing, but that the number likely exceeded the seven animals found at the home.
Some of the deer were quite large, including one buck with seven points on its antlers, he said.
"These are the animals that represent the breeding population and success of the local herd," Foy said.
The suspects are facing felony conspiracy and four poaching-related charges, authorities said.
"What these guys are doing is very significant in terms of wildlife crime," Foy said. "This is a big one for us."
http://www.sacbee.com/fishing_hunting/stor...Fishing/Hunting
The arrests of Lafoo Saeteurn, 41, and his girlfriend, Merry Nian Saechao, 61, were the culmination of a seven-month investigation that involved roughly a dozen officers from the state's Department of Fish and Game, said Patrick Foy, a warden with the department.
According to Foy, the suspects were part of a larger group that included two other people arrested on similar charges in May.
"What is so significant is that they are killing so many deer and selling them for personal profit," Foy said.
He said most cases of deer poaching involve individuals killing the animals for their own consumption.
The pair arrested Saturday are suspected of shooting deer in El Dorado, Placer and Amador counties. Foy said they shot the deer out of season and at night, which is illegal.
The season runs for 37 days during September and October.
The couple were "turning around and selling (the deer meat) on the black market," Foy said. He said in most cases of deer poaching where the meat is sold, it goes to family members or neighbors.
Authorities said there was no evidence that the meat was being sold to local markets. Foy said the suspects were selling the deer for $150 apiece.
"There is a network of people who know what's for sale and the costs," Foy said.
The remains of seven deer and "a couple hundred pounds of deer meat" were found at the home in the 7400 block of Elder Creek Road that the suspects were renting, according to Foy.
He said it was "impossible to tell" Saturday how many deer the couple were suspected of killing, but that the number likely exceeded the seven animals found at the home.
Some of the deer were quite large, including one buck with seven points on its antlers, he said.
"These are the animals that represent the breeding population and success of the local herd," Foy said.
The suspects are facing felony conspiracy and four poaching-related charges, authorities said.
"What these guys are doing is very significant in terms of wildlife crime," Foy said. "This is a big one for us."
http://www.sacbee.com/fishing_hunting/stor...Fishing/Hunting