Cecil Allen Tindle, Migratory Bird Violations, Mississippi 2013

CLEVELAND, Mississippi – In a shocking display of disregard for the law, Cecil Allen ‘Torch’ Tindle, 50, of Cleveland, Mississippi, has been caught and sentenced for a string of egregious migratory bird violations.

According to sources close to the investigation, Tindle’s crimes included taking migratory birds from a motor boat while the boat was under power and aiding and abetting other hunters in the taking of ducks in excess of the daily bag limit during a commercially guided duck hunt.

The charges against Tindle stemmed from an Information filed on February 8, 2013, before United States Magistrate Judge David A. Sanders in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

Tindle’s sentencing was a direct result of his guilty plea to four counts of the 20-count Information. As a result, he was ordered to pay a fine of $4,000, including associated fees and court costs, and to pay restitution to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks in the amount of $4,000 to offset a portion of the costs of investigation.

Tindle was also placed on probation for a period of two years, during which he will be prohibited from hunting in any manner or at any hunting camp or campsite anywhere in the world at any time during any season open to hunting.

The investigation into Tindle’s crimes was a collaborative effort involving the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, the National Wildlife Refuge Division of Law Enforcement, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Mims.

When reached for comment, United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Charge Luis Santiago said, ‘We are committed to working with Mississippi and its citizens to conserve and protect waterfowl and other wildlife. Our collective efforts help ensure that these resources will be here for future generations of fair chase hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.’

Related Federal Cases