Illegal bear guide busted
Photo by M. Scott Moon
Photo by M. Scott Moon
A Nikiski man has been charged with numerous illegal guiding charges alleging he sold black bear hunts to three Washington residents without having a license.
Wally Dean Jackson, 37, has been charged with at least 17 counts, including one felony for writing a bad check, and numerous misdemeanor counts including guiding without a license, outfitting a big game hunt without a license, transporting without a license, advertising and representing to be a transporter without a license, driving while license suspended and 10 counts of obtaining resident hunting permit tickets or making false statements on resident license applications.
In addition, troopers said it's likely more charges will follow once the entire case is sorted out.
The charges stem from an incident that took place May 12 on Kenai Lake. According to Trooper Mark Cloward with the Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement, a random check of Jackson's hunting party re-vealed Jackson was not licensed to guide clients.
Cloward said he was watching the boat launch at the lake and became suspicious of the way Jackson was acting.
"Things just didn't smell right," Cloward said.
Following an investigation, Cloward discovered that Jackson, who operates a company called Worldwide Angling and Big Game Adventures, was not licensed to do so.
The information came as a big surprise to the three Washington men who'd paid Jackson more than $4,000 for the guided hunt.
"They were totally shocked by the whole thing," Cloward said.
When the hunters demanded that Jackson refund their money, he allegedly gave them some cash and a check for $4,180. That check never cleared, leading to the felony charge.
In addition to not having a license to guide, Cloward said Jackson allegedly wasn't even a resident of Alaska at the time of the incident.
Jackson is scheduled to be arraigned in Seward District Court on Nov. 15.
Cloward said he believes Jackson has a history of illegal guiding activity, and said it's a good possibility that more charges will be filed in the case.