Otterson pleads guilty

A Stonyford poacher, once referred to as "the catch of a lifetime" on national television by state game wardens, pleaded guilty Monday after taking a deal that significantly reduced the criminal charges against him.

Tucker M. Otterson pleaded guilty in Colusa County Superior Court to three reduced misdemeanor charges of unlawfully capturing game, unlawfully taking game and unlawful use of a dog to hunt bears, according to the Court Clerk's Office.

Efforts to reach both Otterson and officials with the state Department of Fish and Game were not successful.

The case was handled by the state District Attorney's Association.

Otterson, 21, was charged in March with five felony counts of animal cruelty and seven misdemeanor Fish and Game code violations.

Otterson's girlfriend, Brooke Boyes, also pleaded guilty Monday to a reduced misdemeanor charge of unlawfully taking game. She was sentenced to three years probation.

Boyes' father, Reese, was also charged with illegally taking elk parts, but he is still fighting the case against him. Reese Boyes is set to appear Sept. 7 for a trial readiness hearing, and a jury trial is tentatively set for October.

The complaint accused Otterson of "maliciously and intentionally" killing, maiming torturing or wounding a variety of wild animals including a bear, a pig, a badger and multiple turtles between April of 2008 and September of last year.

The case against the Stonyford rancher first came to light in January when a portion of the Fish and Game investigation was depicted on a January episode of "Wild Justice," a National Geographic television series which depicts the activities and investigations of California Fish and Game wardens.

The episode, "Born to Kill," depicted game wardens searching Otterson's sprawling "Indian Creek Ranch" in western Colusa County and reportedly recovering numerous items they claimed on camera were evidence of "massive" gaming and animal violations.

The now highly controversial episode also plainly depicted an informant providing wardens with information and making several shocking allegations about Otterson abusing animals and recording it on video tapes.

That informant was later attacked twice in Willows, but no arrests have ever been made and police have said there is no evidence Otterson was connected to the attacks in any way.

The informant's allegations were aired on national television, but no video tape evidence was ever found, authorities said.

Other problems with the case surfaced in the following months, including whether or not Otterson was ever properly informed of his rights while law enforcement searched his property, and state game wardens seemed to drag their feet filing charges.

The search of Otterson's land was conducted in October, the "Wild Justice" episode debuted in January, but no charges were filed against Otterson until the last week of March.

Otterson is due back in court Sept. 7 for sentencing.

Contact Rob Parsons at 934-6800 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.