LAKE COUNTY — Five men were convicted and sentenced Tuesday for illegally hunting in the State Game Refuge in the Mendocino National Forest, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
Those convicted were Juan Estrada Gomez, 30, of Redwood City; Eduardo Yepis Casillas, 34, of San Mateo; Jose Manuel Hernandez, 21, of Redwood City; Jose Hernandez Bustos, 55, of Redwood City and Cesar Vidal Martinez, 38, of Hayward.
State Fish and Game Warden Patrick Freeling located the five men on Sept. 17 after noticing two vehicles parked at the refuge boundary near Broadman Ridge, according to Hinchcliff.
The warden saw the men walking out of the refuge with hunting rifles, and each man eventually admitted to deer hunting, Hinchcliff said.
Signs are posted at all refuge entrances to inform people that it is illegal to hunt or possess firearms in that area. The case was referred to Hinchcliff for prosecution, and the five men were charged with illegal hunting and possession of firearms in a game refuge.
All five men pleaded no contest Tuesday to possession of firearms in the refuge, and Judge Andrew S. Blum sentenced them to three years probation, revoked their hunting privilege for three years and ordered them to pay $1,915 fines, Hinchcliff said.
