DNA of moose shot in Minden traced to Toronto Freezer – Busted!

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DNA of moose shot in Minden traced to Toronto Freezer – Busted!

Toronto men ‘tagged’ $13,000 for hunting illegally

Shades of CSI Minden.

No it’s not a new television series. It’s a wee tiptoe into the new world of forensic policing and how the MNR is using technology to nab their ‘prey.’

DNA sampling – yes DNA sampling - led to the charge and conviction of two men from the GTA, who will probably think twice before hunting moose illegally in the Highlands again.

TwoToronto men were fined a total of $13,000 for hunting, possessing and transporting moose and deer shot during the closed season. Justice of the Peace Brian Norton heard the case in the Minden Court on January 5.

An MNR press release related that, “Ihor Pylypchuk pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000 for hunting moose during the closed seasonand $3,000 for hunting deer during the closed season.In addition to being fined $2,000 for the possession of illegally killed moose and deer, he received a five-year hunting suspensionand his firearm was permanently forfeited to the Crown.”

Another man, Ihor Maksymyshyn pleaded guilty to transporting moose unlawfully hunted, and was fined $3,000.

The court heard that on October 3, 2010, a conservation officer attended a house in the Kinmount area finding butchered meat in the basement. Further investigation by conservation officers, with the assistance of the canine unit, led to the location of moose and deer kill sites on the property.

“Subsequently, two search warrants were executed on residences in the Toronto area,” the release said. “Officers recovered moose meat from the residence of Ihor Maksymyshyn that matched DNA from the kill location identified on the property in Kinmount.”

Now that’s some pretty fancy finagling folks. Moose in a Toronto freezer tracked to a dead moose in Minden. Poachers take note.

And just for good measure the report details that, “a firearm was located in the residence of Ihor Pylypchuk that was forensically examined and matched to a bullet located in the illegal killed moose.”

Absolutely amazing story.

To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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http://haliburtonhighlander.ca/2012/01/09/minden-court-levies-hefty-fines-for-illegal-hunting/
 
"....he received a five-year hunting suspension and his firearm was permanently forfeited to the Crown.”
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This is one of the longer suspensions I've seen.

Something tells me it was the effort of the MNR (most likely due to lack of cooperation) in this case that had a big impact in the fines and sentence.
 
I just wonder if thre MNR is any closer to find the ones who killed all those coyotes in that area a while back, true coyotes are a trouble pest etc, but to shoot 40 and let them rot. thats not pest control eighter
 
Here in BC I recall a case where the COs found a kill site (moose) and a few beercans left around with it. They drove around (plainsclothed) visiting different camps and ended up having a few beers with the guys who shot the moose. I can't recall the particular offence they were guilty of but the COs matched the product code? of the beercans to those left at the gutpile and busted them.

Not DNA but I was impressed at the lengths they will go to catch offenders.
 
Is the budget such at the MNR they can afford this sort of thing with DNA testing? I bet the lab fees were crazy for this 13K fine.
 
Actually the Ont. Government is starting a Moose DNA register, more then one way to skin a cat.
I hope that the other news does not reflect badly on all hunters of Ukrainian descent.
 
Good for them for pursuing and prosecuting. I can't help but wonder what sort of budget they operate on, and whether its justifiable.
 
I was in the pharmacy and saw an over-the-counter swab kit for paternity testing. DNA testing has come down in cost dramatically from what it was, and the turn around is much shorter now.

Serves them right. Hunt responsibly or you won't get to hunt at all.
 
The reason why I brought up the cost of the case, was I was under the impression that the MNR had major budget issues and were cutting back on officers and services. Most of thier offices are either shut to the public or by appointment only. You see one guy has a huge region all to himself.

Sure using dna tech is interesting, but is it a worthwhile expense if you end up cutting overall enforcement because of it?
 
USP said:
The reason why I brought up the cost of the case, was I was under the impression that the MNR had major budget issues and were cutting back on officers and services. Most of thier offices are either shut to the public or by appointment only. You see one guy has a huge region all to himself.

Sure using dna tech is interesting, but is it a worthwhile expense if you end up cutting overall enforcement because of it?
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Is it a worthwhile expense?
Well, it resulted in a conviction that might not have occurred had it not been used. Plus it has the deterrent value that potential poachers now will be afraid that DNA evidence will be used against them.
Conceder this option, let's say the conservation officers did the same investigation but chose to save on costs and did not use DNA evidence. How would it help the budget if the investigation cost was nearly the same but lacked a conviction based on lack of evidence? How much of a deterrent value would this case have if it made it to court and was proved in the public eyes, but not proven beyond a reasonable doubt and dismissed?
Yes more COs on the ground is better for enforcement, but if the budget is shrinking to the point that offices are shrinking and CO positions decreasing the remaining officers need to do more, and if that means using new technology and techniques so be it.
The last thing we would want would be the image that poachers will walk because the guys doing the investigation are incompetent and can't make their case.
In this case clearly the investigation was done properly and the appropriate result achieved.
 
madpat said:
Is it a worthwhile expense?
Well, it resulted in a conviction that might not have occurred had it not been used.
The last thing we would want would be the image that poachers will walk because the guys doing the investigation are incompetent and can't make their case.
In this case clearly the investigation was done properly and the appropriate result achieved.
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Bingo......plus it got these scumbags. How many times have they got
away with this?
 
oldbill said:
I was in the pharmacy and saw an over-the-counter swab kit for paternity testing. DNA testing has come down in cost dramatically from what it was, and the turn around is much shorter now.

Serves them right. Hunt responsibly or you won't get to hunt at all.
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A paternity test is significantly less complex than matching DNA for a criminal prosecution - which needs substantially more markers to be binding. You can bet that the testing cost taxpayers at least $500 on top of the cost of collecting samples. Not just anyone can collect the samples - again for it to be binding, than the sampling needs to be done by someone who can testify to a lack of contamination.

And rightfully so - wouldn't it be scary if you were convicted of something you didn't do based on DNA evidence that accidentally matched the tester's DNA which had contaminated both samples?
 
I can only applaud the CO's for making the effort and using modern science available to them to help ensure a conviction.

However as I found out through personel experience the use of modern technology to solve a crime is totally up to the particular law enforcement agency and the individual officers.

My hunt camp was broken into several years ago and about 13K worth of possesions taken. The police at the time admitted they were reasonably sure who was responsble but lacked positive proof.

I pointed out to the investgating officer he had DNA proof in the form of hair in the two old hats the crooks left behind. He justed looked at me and laughed. Stated "this was a break in not a f;;kin murder" and to call my insurance company and get over it.

It is not a wonder the average person has lost confidence in the police and pays much higher insurance rates.
 
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