A multi-year poaching investigation led by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has come to a close with considerable penalties for three individuals on multiple counts of wildlife infractions within Jefferson and Adams counties. As reported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, it was detailed that the investigation, beginning in October 2021, highlighted the deliberate circumvention of hunting laws across several states, culminating in the imposition of fines and probation.
Jeffrey Flaherty, 58, has agreed to a negotiated settlement, wherein he pleads guilty to 13 misdemeanors including illegal possession of big game and using bait for wildlife. His fines total $42,787.22, and he will be under two years of supervised probation. Flaherty also faces a mandatory five-year license suspension, according to CPW Officer Scott Murdoch's statement obtained by CPW. Andrew Flaherty, 27, his son, is likewise on the hook for $3,646.19 in penalties for related misdemeanors. Kenneth Curtis, 75, has paid $1,646.50 and admitted to three misdemeanors including baiting bears and not adhering to hunting attire regulations. Curtis will see his hunting privileges suspended for a year.
This probe's origins trace back to CPW Officer Scott Murdoch examining the hunting license draw list, where he noticed irregularities with the Flaherty family's entries. An ongoing investigation exposed Jeffrey Flaherty's Florida residency claims where he also held a driver's license and had cast a vote in the 2020 elections. Murdoch said, as per Colorado Parks and Wildlife, "Residents of Colorado are entitled to certain privileges when it comes to hunting and fishing," highlighting the cost disparities between resident and non-resident licenses that these individuals exploited.
CPW's surveillance captured images of Flaherty engaging in unlawful hunting practices, including baiting wildlife with hay, alfalfa, and corn. A subsequent search warrant divulged text messages from Andrew Flaherty, detailing the illegal hunting of a bull elk out of season. Curtis, also implicated, had discussions with Jeffrey Flaherty about attracting bears with elk offal and pumpkins, though there was no evidence Curtis successfully hunted a bear.
“These defendants took deliberate actions to break dozens of laws with a complete disregard for the wildlife of the state, they were poachers, not hunters,” said Murdoch, as obtained by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. CPW has expressed gratitude toward the Jefferson County and Adams County District Attorneys for their dedication and thorough prosecution of the case, illustrating the weight of enforcement required to protect the state's wildlife.
