Plea negotiated in trooper poaching case

SANDPOINT — A binding plea agreement is being proposed to resolve a misdemeanor criminal charge against an Idaho State Police trooper who shot a bull moose four days before the season opened.

If a 2nd District judge signs on to the plea agreement, Cpl. Jeffrey Richard Jayne would be placed on unsupervised probation for six months and ordered to pay a $500 penalty, according to documents released by the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office.

Jayne’s hunting privileges would also be revoked for two years. The conviction would be removed from his record upon completion of all the sentence’s terms.

If the court declines to abide by the sentencing recommendations, Jayne would be free to withdraw his plea and proceed to trial.

Jayne, 42, shot the bull in northern Bonner County last fall.

The case is being prosecuted in 2nd District Court because Jayne’s patrol beat is encompasses the jurisdiction of 1st District Court. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson was appointed to handle the matter to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. The venue was shifted from Bonner to Latah County for similar reasons.

Thompson’s office released more than 20 pages of court documents on Tuesday, including investigative report and filings documenting administrative matters in the case.

Below is a chronology of events compiled from the Idaho Department of Fish & Game investigation and court documents:

• May 28, 2010 — Jayne’s name is drawn for a controlled moose hunt tag for northeastern Bonner County and southeastern Boundary County.
• Sept. 11, 2010 — Jayne harvests a moose on a neighbor’s property after obtaining permission from the landowner to hunt there. The same day, Jayne advises a Fish & Game officer he shot the moose.
• Sept. 12, 2010 — Jayne makes follow-up call to the Fish & Game officer regarding the mandatory big game mortality report.
• Sept. 15, 2010 — An Idaho Fish & Game officer was directed to a Coeur d'Alene taxidermist by an anonymous tip that Jayne brought in antlers and the hide of a moose that was possibly taken out of season.
• Sept. 16, 2010 — Fish & Game investigates the anonymous report. Jayne is advised the same day by a Fish & Game officer that he shot the animal prior to the opening of the season.
• Sept. 18, 2010 — Fish & Game Senior Conservation Officer Matt Haag interviews Jayne, who said he would take responsibility for his error.
• Oct. 4, 2010 — As word of the Fish & Game investigation spreads, Jayne releases a statement admitting he made a mistake in recalling the hunting season dates.
• Feb. 2, 2011 — Jayne enters into plea agreement.
• Feb. 4, 2011 — State files charge against Jayne. The binding plea agreement is filed the same day.

When asked what influenced a charging decision in the case, Thompson pointed to the probable cause affidavit, which notes that Jayne was cooperative and candid during the investigation.

“As the affidavit indicates, there is no evidence that Mr. Jayne intentionally disregarded the season dates, and we are aware of nothing to suggest that he attempted to cover up or hide anything,” Thompson said in an e-mail to The Daily Bee.

However, Thompson added that there was no question that Jayne unlawfully jumped the gun on the season, which necessitated a charge in the matter.

Thompson anticipates a sentencing hearing will be held later this month, at which time a judge will decide whether to adopt the sentencing recommendations.