Poacher gets suspended sentence

WALLACE — An undercover operation led to the recent sentencing of a St. Maries man in Shoshone County.

Judge Scott Wayman sentenced Paul D. Coward to five years suspended among other penalties after pleading guilty to unlawfully killing an animal and unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to case records, in February 2021 Coward was charged with unlawful killing of an animal, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm — all three charges being felonies — four misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The charges came after an investigation by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and law enforcement from Shoshone and Benewah counties.

According to case files, IDFG utilized its Special Investigative Unit — a group that specializes in compiling and investigating tips and violations pertaining to Idaho’s wildlife.

Coward had been investigated, charged and was found guilty of illegal trapping in 2015. It was one of nine documented violations or warnings that he had received from IDFG.

According to Shoshone County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ben Allen, there were over 20 tips about Coward’s illegal activities, including unlawful guiding and outfitting hunts.

The undercover op lasted over three years, where the investigators utilized Coward’s "services’" as an unlawful guide, including being taken on a guided elk hunt through parts of Shoshone and Benewah counties that included visiting illegal bait sites.

Allen said that based upon the evidence, Shoshone County was asked to execute a search on Coward’s residence. When he was taken into custody, Coward was in possession of an illegally poached mountain goat as well as the illegal firearms — due to him being a convicted felon.

Several controlled substances were also found at Coward’s residence.

As part of his plea agreement, the misdemeanor charges were dismissed, as well as one of the felony weapons charges, leaving the two remaining felonies.

Along with his five-year suspended prison sentence, Coward was ordered to serve 90 days of local jail time, which will be in the month of September for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. He will also have three years of supervised probation, $13,000 in fines and penalties and a 10-year hunting license revocation.

Anyone with information about a wildlife violation is encouraged to “Make the Call” and contact the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline at 1-800-632-5999. Callers may remain anonymous, and they may be eligible for a reward.