New dates set for poaching trials

Jason Hutt charged with 26 counts of poaching-related crimes

Jason Hutt

Jason Hutt

PORT ANGELES — New trial dates have been set for alleged big-game poacher Jason Bradley Hutt.

Hutt, 29, of Sequim, is charged with 26 counts of poaching-related crimes in two Clallam County cases and one Jefferson County case.

State Department of Fish and Wildlife investigators alleged that Hutt committed the hunting violations on the North Olympic Peninsula in 2018 and 2019.

Hutt also is charged in a third Clallam County case with possession of methamphetamine and bail jumping.

He has a status hearing in Clallam County Superior Court today.

Superior Court Judge Brian Coughenour has scheduled a March 30 trial in Hutt’s original poaching case. He was charged last August with 12 counts of first-degree unlawful hunting of big game, two counts of first-degree unlawful transportation of wildlife and single counts of waste of wildlife and unlawful hunting on the property of another.

Coughenour also scheduled an April 13 trial in a second poaching case in which Hutt allegedly committed two counts of first-degree unlawful hunting of big game, three counts of second-degree hunting of wild animals or wild birds, two counts of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm and one count of unlawful carrying of a firearm.

A March 16 trial was set for Hutt’s drug possession and bail jumping case.

Hutt is being held in the Clallam County jail on $60,000 bail.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife alleged that Hutt and an accomplice — Wyatt James Beck — illegally killed several bears, deer and elk in Clallam and Jefferson counties in the summer of 2018.

Hutt has a prior Clallam County District Court conviction for hunting and killing black-tail deer without tags or licenses in 2016.

Hutt and Beck were each charged in Jefferson County Superior Court last September with two counts of first-degree accomplice to unlawful hunting of big game for the alleged poaching of two elk near Brinnon School.

Beck, 24, also of Sequim, pleaded guilty in Clallam County Superior Court Jan. 30 to four counts of second-degree unlawful hunting of big game with accomplice liability.

He was sentenced to 240 hours of community service and 30 days on electronic home monitoring, and was ordered to pay $8,000 in fines.

Fish and Wildlife investigators said Beck had helped Hutt poach three bears and three deer in Clallam County and two elk in Jefferson County in 2018.

Hutt’s second poaching case is related to the discovery of animal carcasses and pelts at Hutt’s residence last August.

Hutt collected elk and deer heads as trophies, Fish and Wildlife Officer Bryan Davidson said in court papers.

Hutt has a hearing in Jefferson County Superior Court in April, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy has said.

Hutt was booked into the Clallam County jail Feb. 14 after failing to show up for three court hearings.

Coughenour denied Hutt’s request for a lower bail.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

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