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OSP arrests Sweet Home man on wildlife violation charges

A Sweet Home man is facing a series of wildlife violation charges after his arrest on June 14.

Nathan J. Rice, 40, was arrested and lodged at Linn County Jail on a parole violation detainer and multiple criminal citations for possession of firearms and the illegal taking and possession of wildlife.

Rice is a convicted felon, on post-prison supervision, and is currently serving a lifetime hunting suspension.

According to Oregon State Police, troopers received information that Rice was in possession of multiple firearms and wildlife parts associated with two unlawfully killed buck deer.

A search yielded eight firearms, many of which were fully loaded, and multiple sets of trophy blacktail deer and elk antlers. The troopers seized the firearms, antlers, and game meat.

Rice was cited for eight counts of possession of firearm by felon, 17 counts of illegal taking and possession of buck deer, two counts of illegal taking and possession of bull elk, lending/borrowing a big game tag, exceeding the bag limit for a game mammal, and two counts of aiding in a wildlife offense.

Additional suspects and charges are pending follow-up investigation, police said.

A violation of any provision of the wildlife laws (such as the unlawful taking of deer), or any rule adopted pursuant to the wildlife laws, is a Class A misdemeanor if the offense is committed with a culpable mental state in Oregon.

If convicted, a person can be charged with the maximum penalty of $6,250, have their hunting privileges suspended and forfeit weapons or other items used in the commission of the crime(s).

Anyone with information regarding wildlife violations is encouraged to report the information to the Oregon State Police Turn in Poacher (TIP) hotline at 1-800-452-7888. Information can remain anonymous.

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