Operation Game Thief is one of the largest deer poaching cases in Missouri history. The effort, which started back in 2015, spanned several states and involved dozens of wildlife officers.
David Berry Jr., along with his dad and brother, devised an illegal and downright heinous scheme. For nearly 10 years, they slaughtered hundreds and hundreds of bucks, just so they could use their heads as trophies. Meanwhile, they left the animal’s bodies there to rot and go to waste.
According to AP News, “[David Berry Jr.’s] father, David Berry Sr., and his brother, Kyle Berry, were arrested in August after a nearly nine-month investigation that also involved cases in Kansas, Nebraska and Canada. The Missouri Department of Conservation said information from the investigation led to 14 Missouri residents facing more than 230 charges in 11 counties.”
Berry Jr. and his father were stripped of their state hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for life. The Berry family has paid over $50,000 in fines.
Lawrence County Judge Robert George was appalled by these crimes and sentenced David Berry Jr. to one year in jail.
But the judge wasn’t finished with Berry Jr. quite yet.
He came up with a creative and unconventional way to ensure the punishment fit the crime — and made a very special addition to his sentence.
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