Charges against alleged teenage poachers considered

FORKS – Prosecutors are considering charges against three teens suspected of illegally shooting six elk in December and then leaving them to die.

The elk, four cows and two calves, were discovered by a passerby on Dec. 10 in a clearcut off Sitkum-Sol Duc Road – also known as the A Road – north of Forks.

One of the calves was still alive and was put down by a state Fish and Wildlife officer who estimated it had survived about 22 hours after being shot in the hindquarters.

Two of the boys were 16 years old at the time and one was 15, said Clallam County Deputy Prosecutor Tracey Lassus.

She said she will review case files this week and is considering filing charges in Clallam County juvenile court.

The 15-year-old had citations filed in Clallam County District Court No. 2 in Forks Jan. 4, said Fish and Wildlife Officer Brian Fairbanks, the officer who humanely killed the calf and who conducted the investigation.

The citation is for unlawful hunting of big game, spotlighting of big game and wastage of big game, Fairbanks said.

Spotlighting is when spotlights or headlights from vehicles are used to hunt animals at night.

The citation will then be reviewed by district court prosecutors for charges, Fairbanks said.

The potential charges are misdemeanors and will be filed in district court.

Possible charges against the other two boys, one of whom has turned 17 since the incident, will include the hunting charges but also felony firearm charges, Lassus said.

The 15-year-old is not suspected of using a firearm in the killing of the elk, Lassus said.

The names of the boys were not released.

More in News

Special Olympian Deni Isett, center, holds a ceremonial torch with Clallam County Sheriff Brian King, right, accompanied by Lt. Jim Thompson of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Police on a leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run on the Olympic Discovery Trail at Port Angeles City Pier. Tuesday’s segment of the run, conducted mostly by area law enforcement agencies, was organized to support Special Olympics Washington and was to culminate with a community celebration at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Carrying the torch

Special Olympian Deni Isett, center, holds a ceremonial torch with Clallam County… Continue reading

Hopefuls for Olympic Medical Center board debate

Talk focuses on funds, partnership

An encapsulated engineered coupler used to repair a January leak. The leak occurred along a similar welded joint near to the current leak. (City of Port Townsend)
Port Townsend considers emergency repair for pipeline

Temporary fix needs longer-term solution, officials say

Traffic to be stopped for new bridge girders

Work crews for the state Department of Transportation will unload… Continue reading

The Peninsula Crisis Response Team responded with two armored vehicles on Tuesday when a 37-year-old Sequim man barricaded himself in a residence in the 200 block of Village Lane in Sequim. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Man barricaded with rifle arrested

Suspect had fired shots in direction of deputies, sheriff says

An interior view of the 12-passenger, all-electric hydrofoil ferry before it made a demonstration run on Port Townsend Bay on Saturday. Standing in the aisle is David Tyler, the co-founder and managing director of Artemis Technologies, the designer and builder of the carbon fiber boat. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Demonstration provides glimpse of potential for ferry service

Battery-powered hydrofoil could open water travel

Electronic edition of newspaper set for Thursday holiday

Peninsula Daily News will have an electronic edition only… Continue reading

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her mother, Rachel Shidler of Port Angeles, during Saturday’s Summertide celebration in Webster’s Woods sculpture park at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. The event, which marks the beginning of the summer season, featured food, music, crafts and other activities for youths and adults. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Summertide festival

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her… Continue reading

Law enforcement agencies to participate in Torch Run

Clallam County law enforcement agencies will participate in the… Continue reading

Crews contain wildland fire near Fisher Cove Road

Crews from Clallam County Fire District 2 quickly contained… Continue reading

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn by fellow senior Hayden Horn on Saturday. Gales had a handmade Native American cap ready for her graduation. Seventeen Crescent students graduated during traditional ceremonies in the school gym. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Crescent graduation

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn… Continue reading

Pertussis cases see 25-fold increase statewide in 2024

The state Department of Health reported an increase in pertussis… Continue reading