A 42-year-old Nikiski man pleaded guilty Thursday to shooting a moose during closed season and a third-degree weapon charge.
In September 2011, James "Jesse" R. Jackson, killed a moose near his property. Alaska Wildlife Trooper Glenn Taylor reported Jackson admitted to shooting the moose because it attacked his dog on his front porch.
Alaska residents legally can shoot moose in defense of life or property (DLP). An owner can protect a domesticated animal under the law. Prosecutions for illegal DLPs are rare, but Alaska Wildlife Troopers argued Jackson's shooting was not an eligible situation, according to court records.
Jackson will serve three years in prison and will pay a $1,500 fine.
Taylor received a report of a cow moose being shot in Nikiski. He arrived on scene at 8:48 a.m. and contacted Jackson, who was standing near the dead moose.
Jackson said he shot the moose about two minutes after his dog was attacked, adding the dog was inside the residence and uninjured when he shot the moose, Troopers report.
"The moose wasn't doing anything when he shot it, but (Jackson) felt it was a menace," Taylor reported.
When the Trooper contacted Jackson, he failed to inform the officer he was in possession of a concealed handgun. Later, inside Jackson's residence, he removed a black handgun out of his right jacket pocket, looked at Trooper Taylor and said "I have this 9 mm," according to court records.
While it is legal to carry a concealed weapon in most of the state, residents are required to immediately tell law officials about their concealed gun. Further investigation revealed Jackson is a convicted felon out of Oregon and should not be in possession of a firearm.
Both Jackson and his wife Bobbie Jackson, 39, admitted to buying the stolen handgun from a cousin.
He originally was charged with taking a moose in closed season; second-, third- and fifth-degree misconduct involving a weapon; and theft by receiving.
Bobbie was also charged with second-degree theft and pleaded guilty so the court would accept the plea agreement, according to court records.
Many DLP shootings on the Kenai Peninsula are due to bear encounters. An average of seven bears are killed each year as DLP animals, according to the Cooper Landing Bears Alive Coalition.
Jerzy Shedlock can be reached at jerzy.shedlock@peninsulaclarion.com.
Comments (3)
Add commentIf only....
... fish and wildlife would get as aggressive about catching and prosecuting non-resident poachers (specifically dipnetters). But non-residents are given a "pass" on this issue because the weak, greedy "powers that be" have decided that such actions would scare away tourists..... And the agenda is to do away with dipnetting altogether.
f&g is a bad joke in this area.
Maninthedark...
Mr Man in the Dark: I see you may have lost total course on what this story is about, so I thought I might be of some assistance in explaining:
This is about a felon, who is not suppose to possess firearms because he received his felony outside the State of Alaska, and illegally shot a moose. Not to mention he failed to follow Alaska Statute 11.61.220 (a)(1)(A)(i) that you are suppose to notify the Officer immediately that you have a concealed weapon.
It is people such as this who fail to follow that simple little law that puts risk back on the Officer along with the rights of the individual who carry concealed (even if they have been convicted of a non-violent felony in Alaska).
This story has NOTHING to do with dipnetting....wow.
What a Poorly Written Article
The writer fails to mention until late in the article that Jackson is a convicted felon, who failed to inform a police officer he was armed, with a stolen firearm. The article gives the initial impression that Jackson received a very harsh sentence for a game violation.
Poor journalism, Clarion you're better than this.
Fish & Wildlife Troopers are
..............plain lazy in this area. Yes, Manin you are right. The local fish & willdlife Troopers in this area are pathetic. If it does not have something to do with moose, or if it involves any real investigative work outside the office or vehicle, they are not interested.
Non-residents and residents alike commonly violate the laws on the Kenai River. Yet, I have not seen a Trooper on the river in over 10 years. Violations are rampat on the river in August with both guided and non-guided boats. Anglers regularly exceed the daily bag limit of 2 silver salmon. The troopers and park rangers have been called, but never do anything about it.