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Kelso man sentenced for poaching

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:32 PM PDT

By Amy M.E. Fischer

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A Kelso man was sentenced Wednesday to 3 1/2 years in state prison Wednesday for poaching several elk and illegally possessing a gun.

Cowlitz Superior Court Judge Stephen Warning also ordered Kenneth James Farmer, 34, to pay a $14,000 fine to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Warning rejected a defense suggestion that Farmer was poaching to feed his family.

Farmer, who has prior felony convictions, pled guilty in August to nine hunting violations and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Under Wednesday’s plea deal, Farmer received the maximum sentence in exchange for the prosecutor dropping two additional gun charges, said Deputy Prosecutor Amie Hunt.

The WDFW arrested Farmer on Feb. 13 on suspicion of poaching elk in the Toutle Valley. Farmer, who was on probation at the time, was charged in Cowlitz District Court with two counts of illegal hunting of big game in the second degree, two counts of spotlighting big game in the second degree and one count of possession of a loaded firearm.

Then, on Feb. 28, Kelso police arrested Farmer on suspicion of possession of a stolen firearm and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm while investigating a report of a foul smell emanating from a storage unit.

Inside the unit, police found six branched elk antlers with decaying flesh attached, leading prosecutors to charge Farmer with six counts of second-degree unlawful hunting of big game.

Farmer’s criminal history includes a 2003 conviction for drug possession, felony eluding, unlawful possession of a firearm and obstructing a police officer.

In court Wednesday, attorney Kevin Blondin asked for a sentencing delay so Farmer could be present at the birth of his child, which his wife is expected to deliver about Nov. 18. Judge Warning denied the request, saying more than two months had passed since Farmer entered his guilty plea and it was time to move forward.

Blondin argued Farmer was guilty of illegally hunting animals to feed his family out of financial desperation, and that this was not a drug, violent or sex crime. Also, Blondin said, Farmer had stayed out of trouble since his last arrest, working and trying to save money to support his family.

A drug counselor and Farmer’s employer also pled for Warning to delay the sentencing, saying Farmer had grown up and become responsible.

Farmer bowed his shaved head as they spoke, tears streaming down his angular face. He apologized to the court, his family and his boss.

However, Warning remained unmoved. Farmer did not kill the elk to put meat on his family’s table, the judge said. Moreover, Warning said, Farmer’s conduct with stolen firearms and other incidents presented a much different picture than what he was hearing.

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SPARROW wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:37 AM:

" I believe the focus of this article was directed at bringing to our attention that one of our judges did something other than giving in to defense for a change. It's obvious an adult 34 yrs. old who has been convicted of drugs, eluding, obstructing, carrying a loaded weapon and spent time in prison for these charges, then proceeds to accumulate 9 counts of hunting violations and still had possession of a stolen weapon has no respect for the law and evidentially did not learn much from his incaration. Since he had a stolen gun, but will not be charged for that, I wonder if he had to give information who actually did the burglary or theft and they will be charged? If not, he should have been charged with the stolen property charge, or possibly the theft. His drug counselor and employer pleading for his delayed sentence is wrong. They are enablers to his actions and should realize he is not a child and needs to step up to the plate and act like an adult. And if his family is so destitute for food, maybe he should have planted a garden! No one grows up and becomes responsible in a few months or a year, especially when they have had over 30 years of experience not being responsible, and six months of staying out of trouble don't cut the mustard with me, could be he just hasn't been caught lately. "

Silly Billy wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:51 AM:

" Sparrow... I couldn't have said it better. However, it is kind of a pisser he aint gonna see his child being born. But, he dug his own grave. Should have been a more responsible grown-up rather than some thug! "

viper wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:02 AM:

" well his employer being there for him should of been enough as it showed he has a job and able to support his family but chose to go against the law anyway I think the judge seen threw the smoke cloud his attorney was trying to throw at the court he had plenty of time to straiten up but didn't good job for the judge !: Viper "

duckguy wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:08 AM:

" If you are killing the elk just to feed your family, you wouldn't only shoot branched antler bulls. You also wouldn't keep the antlers as a "trophy". I'm glad this man won't see his child being born. Hopefully he gets in more trouble in prison and his sentence gets lengthened. That innocent child doesn't need a low-life role model like him around. And don't think that his wife is totally innocent either, she new darn well that he was poaching elk the whole time.....All I can say is POOR CHILD!!!!

Have fun in prison Mr. Farmer. "

anotion wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:23 AM:

" Wow! How did he feed his family with only 6 elk? It takes 12 elk to feed my family for a year. "

kalama river resident wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:59 AM:

" anotion- your not supposed to shoot calf's, Bullets are too expensive to waste ;) "

ACP wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:34 AM:

" 3 1/2 years? that's pathetic! dropping the gun charges and giving the lighter sentence is the reason we will see his name in print again in 3 3/4 years "

lucky1 wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:36 AM:

" duckguy is right. If your doing it for the meat why are you keeping the horns? "

wecare wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:38 AM:

" I can understand feeding his family today it's hard to work and feed your family and the bills kept up I think they should have took this in to consideration we are not rich or even well off like they are let them spend a day in our shoes. The judge should have let him be there for his wife and new baby first what would it have hurt nothing!! I know this family personaly and there a good family everyone has been introuble even if they haven't gotten caught, at least he started going down the right path. got to give him credit for that. "

francis wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:38 AM:

" I find it odd that this man received 3.5 years and Mick Gordon got 13 months. "

Silly Billy wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:52 AM:

" lucky1: Being an avid hunter myself, maybe that's all he could find to feed his family were big bulls. We all know there are a plethora of big bulls around... ;) "

bmc dennis wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:00 PM:

" ok did you all overlook the fact that he could aford a storage unit to keep the elk racks in. He was killing just to get the antlers. Sorry for his family and to be new born child buthe broke the law again and again. Its time to pay for your crime. "

skibum wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:08 PM:

" In response to "Wecare"...if you look in any dictionary, "going down the right path" does not include possessing stolen firearms, felon in possession of a firearm, and poaching. Sheesh, now I see what is wrong with some folks in society. It appears some think breaking the law is ok and it makes you a good family guy. As far as giving Mr. Farmer "credit" for good behavior, that's not going to happen! I went hunting last week (legally) and didn't seen very many elk. Guess I know why now! I give my credit to the judge! "

CRfisherman wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:14 PM:

" If you're poaching to feed your family, shoot a deer....there's lots of those. In my opinion, this guy is getting off easy. I'm an avid hunter and this is really irritating. The sad thing is that he is only one of a handful that are caught doing this. "

viper wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:42 PM:

" It doesn't take many of these people to wipe out a herd of elk , more then likly selling the antlers there are alot of people buy them for craft work knife handles and so fourth It's to bad he doesn't get to serve all of the crime instead of putting some of it on credit
(suspended sentence) "

Silly Billy wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:55 PM:

" Skibum: I was out last weekend too and got into 3 herds and all had legal bulls! Sure can't wait til Nov 1 to come around. I know where I'm hunting... Honey Hole #1, Honey Hole #2 and Honey Hole.... you guessed it! "

beermanyoder wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:02 PM:

" so....he took the whole wrap for all his buddies involved.this guy should get a medal...he kept his friends from getting in trouble.what a crock.hey im blacking out...might go hunting "

MOLE wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:13 PM:

" anotion:HOW big is your family?? If he was hunting for food, he would have shot cows. Elk hunters,know the female tastes better. "

Paratrooper wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:31 PM:

" I think he knew what he was doing was wrong. Needing food or not. Wrong is wrong. When told not to do something by a judge and by the community's laws, I don't do it. I would go seek help from a food bank or someplace.

Most comments are very negative. I say that he is wrong. No more no less. Show me how to get the help I need and I will do it. Show him and will he do it? Can't say until it's tried. I don't know if anyone has tried to show him how to do things legally. He did wrong. The end. "

agro_vader wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:56 PM:

" I'd keep the (horns) antlers has a coat rack. I need to hang my camo somewhere when I get home. "

Im_not_saying wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:22 PM:

" francis - couldn't have said it better myself. Gordon got a slap on the wrist and he tortured a dog, and a kid! I guess Elk are valued more than dogs or children in this state! "

MOLE wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:30 PM:

" FRANCIS AND IM NOT SAYING: makes you wonder when you put it that way,that gordon dude should det the bigger penalty thats for certain! "

mad monkeys wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:16 PM:

" I was wondering on family size too.... That is a lot of meat....oooo makes me angry. if you are going to hunt do it legally. gosh. Husband and I were talking and we agree Mole, cows are good! Bulls are good too but Cows are better. Must be a biggggggg family. "

Bounder wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:28 AM:

" How do you all know that he ONLY shot bulls? Just because they only found branched elk antlers, only proves he didn't keep the heads of cows or spikes. I'm just saying we all have no idea as to how many elk he actually shot. "

mad monkeys wrote on Oct 17, 2008 11:15 AM:

" true.... bad poacher man! "

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