Cleveland Hunter Sentenced for Migratory Bird Violations

OXFORD, Miss. Felicia C. Adams, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Luis Santiago, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Chief of Law Enforcement Steve Adcock announced that:

Cecil Allen “Torch” Tindle, 50, of Cleveland, Mississippi, pled guilty on February 8, 2013, before United States Magistrate Judge David A. Sanders, in Aberdeen, Mississippi, to four counts of a 20-count Information charging him with various migratory bird violations.  Charges to which Tindle pled guilty included taking migratory birds from a motor boat while the boat was under power and aiding and abetting other hunters in the taking of ducks in excess of the daily bag limit during a commercially guided duck hunt.

Following his guilty plea, Tindle was ordered to pay a fine of $4,000, including associated fees and court costs, and to pay restitution to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks in the amount of $4,000 to offset a portion of the costs of investigation.  Tindle was further placed on probation for a period of two years, during which he will be prohibited from hunting in any manner or at any hunting camp or campsite anywhere in the world at any time during any season open to hunting.

“We are committed to working with Mississippi and its citizens to conserve and protect waterfowl and other wildlife,” said United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Charge Santiago.  “Our collective efforts help ensure that these resources will be here for future generations of fair chase hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.”

This case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, the National Wildlife Refuge Division of Law Enforcement and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Mims.