BEAUMONT, Texas – Steve Barclay, 49, of Kennard, Texas, isn’t just a hunting and fishing guide; he’s a lawbreaker. The so-called “Gar Guy” pleaded guilty today to a federal wildlife violation, admitting he knowingly transported an illegally harvested alligator. This wasn’t a simple oversight; it was a deliberate act to cover up a poaching spree.
According to court documents, Barclay admitted that between May 8th, 16th, and 20th of 2008, he watched his client, John A. McCall, gun down a total of three alligators. Texas law, however, limits each hunter to a single alligator per season. Barclay didn’t stop McCall. He didn’t report him. He helped him hide the evidence.
The most damning admission? Barclay transported the alligator killed on May 20th in Leon County directly to Sportsman’s Memory taxidermy shop in Grapeland, Texas. This wasn’t a rescue operation; it was an attempt to memorialize an illegal kill. This act violated both the Endangered Species Act and the Lacy Act, two federal laws designed to protect vulnerable wildlife and prevent the trafficking of illegally obtained animals.
Alligators are listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, meaning their harvest is strictly regulated. The Lacy Act, a powerful tool in wildlife enforcement, makes it a crime to transport any animal taken in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation. Barclay’s actions directly undermined these protections, putting a vulnerable species at risk and thumbing his nose at the law.
While Barclay is technically facing up to 5 years in federal prison and a hefty $250,000.00 fine, a plea agreement suggests a far lighter sentence. If approved by the court, Barclay will get off with a $5,000 fine and three years of probation. A slap on the wrist for aiding and abetting a poaching operation. This case sends a worrying message: is justice truly served when the penalty doesn’t fit the crime?
The investigation was a joint effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement (Houston), and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble prosecuted the case. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continues its mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife for the benefit of all Americans, but cases like this highlight the ongoing challenges in combating wildlife crime and holding perpetrators accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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