Pennsylvania outfitter sentenced for illegally importing deer into KS

A Pennsylvania man that pleaded guilty to four counts of importing deer into Kansas in violation of the Lacey Act, was sentenced Monday to five years' probation, fined $30,000 and banned from doing business in the Sunflower State, U.S. Attorney Stephen McCallister says.

The man sentenced, Robert P. McConnell, 48, owns a company called Horseshoe Hill Outfitters.

In two counts, McCallister says McConnell "admitted to importing deer that were not from an accredited herd that were not officially identified and did not have a certificate of veterinary inspection." In two other counts, the U.S. attorney says, MConnell admitted to importing domesticated deer.

McCallister says the Lacey Act "regulates the trade in wildlife, fish and plants that has been illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold." "Horseshoe Hill Outfitters advertises what it calls "trophy North American big game hunting adventures: in Kansas, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Ontario (Canada)."