Trooper Report Week of January 14, 2018

Location: Craig

AK17065265
Type: Commercial Fish Closed Period/ Commercial Fish Closed Waters / False Information on ADF&G Fish Ticket / Unlawful Possession of Fish - Sentencing
Dispatch Text:

*UPDATE*

On January 10, 2018, Curtis J. Demmert, of Klawock was sentenced in this case. He had previously pled guilty to fishing in closed waters, unlawful possession of fish and entering false information on a fish ticket. He was fined $32,728.79, given 180 days of suspended jail time and ordered to forfeit $17,728.79 worth of illegally taken fish. In addition, the 58 foot commercial seine vessel "Tlingit Lady", along with the seine skiff and net were ordered forfeited to the state.

On 9/25/17, Curtis J. Demmert, age 31 of Klawock, was charged with one count each of Commercial Fish Closed Period, Commercial Fish Closed Waters, filing False Information on an ADF&G Fish Ticket and Unlawful Possession of Fish. The charges originated after Wildlife Troopers on Prince of Wales Island received a report of illegal commercial fishing near the headwaters of a bay on Dall Island. Investigation of the complaint showed that the crew of the Fishing Vessel Tlingit Lady had commercially harvested roughly 23,000 pounds of chum salmon in a closed area in District 3A. The salmon were then sold to a fish buyer. The proceeds of the sale have been confiscated by AWT for possible forfeiture. The Prince of Wales District Court issued multiple search warrants related to the investigation including a seizure warrant for the vessel. The F/V Tlingit Lady, as well as its seine net, seine skiff, and all fishing gear were seized. Demmert has a mandatory appearance in the Prince of Wales District Court.