A multi-year investigation has finally concluded as a Utah man was finally sentenced for the felony killing and waste of a bull elk outside of Pioche, Nevada.
The investigation began in August of 2015 after a bull elk carcass was recovered after it was shot, the head removed and the rest of the animal left to waste. With very little evidence to go on, investigators finally came across some grainy trail camera footage from the private property on which the crime was committed, eventually leading them to their suspect.
“We tracked down this suspect with very little information. Our investigators used several investigative tools and put in extraordinary effort to solve the case with very little to go on,” said Chief Game Warden Tyler Turnipseed. “This is an egregious waste of Nevada’s wildlife, and we are proud of our commitment to catching the person responsible.”
The suspect, Zackry Holdaway of Cedar City, Utah was arrested roughly a year after the incident when he was initially charged with felony big game poaching, a gross misdemeanor for possession of an illegally killed big game animal and three misdemeanors for trespassing, using a spotlight to shoot the animal and wanton waste of a game animal.
This week Holdaway was finally sentenced to pay a $20,000 civil penalty paired with an additional $576 in additional fines and fees. Additionally, he will forfeit his hunting and fishing privileges for six years along with a suspended sentence of 32 months in state prison and orders to serve five years on probation.
“This kind of punishment is reserved for the most egregious poaching of big game animals. Our investigation took on added gravity when we learned that the suspect had previous wildlife violations in Utah,” said Turnipseed. “This case was a blatant theft and waste of Nevada’s resources, and we are grateful to everyone involved for ensuring justice was served.”