BRYSON CITY, N.C. – In a shocking turn of events, 34-year-old Chad Burchfield of Robbinsville, N.C., has been sentenced for his role in the illegal hunting of feral swine at night. This comes as part of a larger operation targeting wildlife poaching in North Carolina and Georgia, dubbed ‘Operation Something Bruin.’
According to U.S. Attorney Anne M. Tompkins, Burchfield pleaded guilty to one count of hunting feral swine at night and was sentenced to 30 days in prison. He was also ordered to pay a $10.00 assessment fee and a $25.00 administrative fee, and had his right to hunt or fish revoked for a period of two years. This is just one of the many cases that have been brought to light as a result of ‘Operation Something Bruin.’
Operation Something Bruin was a multi-agency initiative that involved state and federal wildlife officials in North Carolina and Georgia. The operation was the largest of its kind in recent years, resulting in over 80 wildlife violators and over 980 violations. The primary violations documented by the operation include bear baiting, illegal taking of bears, deer and other wildlife, illegal use of dogs, operation of illegal bear enclosures in North Carolina, and guiding hunts on national forest lands without the required permits.
The agencies involved in this investigation include state wildlife agencies, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. Officers with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, U.S. Forest Service, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources infiltrated poaching circles to document these violations.
Patrick Burchfield, 24, of Robbinsville, also pleaded guilty to one count of hunting feral swine at night and was sentenced to 30 days in prison. He was also ordered to pay a $10.00 assessment fee and a $25.00 administrative fee, and had his right to hunt or fish revoked for a period of two years.
Other defendants sentenced in connection with the operation include Jessie Jenkins, 23, who was sentenced to 30 days in prison for hunting feral swine at night; Kenneth Collins, 44, who was sentenced to 30 days in prison for providing a hunting guide service on National Forest land without a permit; and Casey Collins, 26, who was sentenced to 15 days in prison for two counts of providing a hunting guide service on National Forest land without a permit. All defendants had their hunting and fishing rights revoked for a period of two years.
The success of ‘Operation Something Bruin’ is a testament to the dedication and hard work of law enforcement officials in North Carolina and Georgia. The operation has resulted in significant gains for wildlife conservation and will serve as a model for future efforts to combat wildlife poaching.
For more information on ‘Operation Something Bruin,’ please visit the official website at www.operationsomethingbruin.org.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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