Man sentenced for illegal black bear kill

The man shot and killed a black bear in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

The badge for the Alaska State Troopers

The badge for the Alaska State Troopers

A Florida man has been found guilty of killing and harvesting a black bear in an area of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge closed to all hunting and trapping, according to a Tuesday press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

James Connolly, 63, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Scoble to pay a fine of $8,000, forfeit the black bear hide he harvested and serve a two-year probation for violating the Lacey Act, during which he will be prohibited from hunting anywhere in the United States.

Connolly shot and killed a black bear on May 17, 2018 in the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, according to court documents, where all hunting and trapping is prohibited. After killing the bear, Connolly transported the bear carcass from Alaska to a tannery in California, where it was then shipped to Connolly in Florida.

During the investigation, witnesses reported seeing remains of the black bear on Skilak Lake Loop Road, and others reported that Connolly told them of the kill while he was in the area.

Law enforcement officers conducting the investigation also matched DNA samples of the blood from the kill site with DNA samples taken from the carcass in Connolly’s possession.

Evidence collected by now-retired Federal Wildlife Canine Rex played a “vital role” in the investigation, according to the press release.

Scoble noted during the sentencing that Connolly’s actions were “particularly abhorrent” given the fact that Alaska offers many areas for the legal hunting of black bears.

The investigation was a coordinated effort from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, USFWS Office of Law Enforcement, the Florida Wildlife Commission and Federal Wildlife Officers in Alaska, Florida and North Carolina. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh prosecuted the case.

More in News

A towering Lutz spruce, center, in the Chugach National Forest is about to be hoisted by a crane Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, for transport to the West Lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to be the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)
Tongass National Forest selected to provide 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Eight to 10 candidate trees will be evaluated, with winner taking “whistlestop tour” to D.C.

A slash pile containing non-organic construction debris is seen at the Snug Harbor Slash Disposal site on Sept. 22, 2020, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management)
Assembly OKs concrete lease in Cooper Landing

The vote came amid widespread community opposition to the agreement

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Children hunt for Easter eggs during the Easter Eggstravaganza at Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Saturday.
Easter eggs, bunnies arrive on the Kenai Peninsula

There are plenty of opportunities to grab a photo with the Easter bunny or seek out some eggs

Flier for Bear Awareness and Electric Fencing Workshops. (Provided by Defenders of Wildlife)
Local workshops to focus on managing bear attractants, electric fencing

The series will run Monday through Friday, April 1-5, in Hope, Seward, Kenai, Soldotna and Homer

A person walks up the steps of the Alaska Capitol, Jan. 16, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Some KPBSD schools could benefit from internet bill passed by House

If House Bill 193 becomes law, an additional six KPBSD schools would be eligible for the state’s grant program

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A veterinarian with Greater Good Charities escorts dog Maggie into a free spay/neuter clinic at the Moose Pass Fire Station on Thursday.
Moose Pass rallies behind free spay and neuter clinic

The clinic was put on by Greater Good Charities Good Fix program

Signage marks the entrance to Nikiski Middle/High School on Monday, May 16, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski student arrested after school shooting threats

The juvenile student faces charges of terroristic threatening

Armageddon waits to be shown at the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bjorkman farm tax relief bill clears Senate

The bill is now up for consideration in the House

Most Read