Makah whalers reject plea deal for illegal hunt
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Filed Under:
Environment
|
Law
Five members of the Makah Nation of Washington rejected a plea agreement for participating in an unauthorized whale hunt.
The men had agreed to plead guilty for violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act. They wouldn't have had to serve time in prison under the agreement.
But the deal fell apart in court on Monday when the hunters learned the federal government would seek to bar them from hunting while they were on probation. They said that issue hadn't been discussed during negotiations.
"I have no choice but to go all the way now," Wayne Johnson told the Associated Press said after the hearing. "You can't trust Uncle Sam."
U.S. Attorney Jeff Sullivan said the issue was discussed but that it might be taken off the table for future talks. But one of the hunter's lawyer said it would be hard to negotiate again.
The hunters still face a trial in tribal court for hunting without tribal permission.
Get the Story:
Plea deal with 5 Makahs whalers fails
(The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 3/25)
Makah whalers' plea deal collapses (The Seattle Times 3/25)
Tribal Whalers Reject Plea Deal in Wash. (AP 3/25)
Plea deal for Makah whalers falls apart (The Tacoma News Tribune 3/24)
Relevant Documents:
Tribal
Council Statement |
Makah
Tribal Whale Hunt |
Marine
Mammal Protection Act
Court Decisions:
Anderson
v. Evans (June 7, 2004) |
Anderson
v. Evans (December 20, 2002)
Relevant Links:
Makah Nation -
http://www.makah.com
Related Stories:
Makah whaling case set for
trial in two courts (03/17)
Judge reduces charges in Makah whaling case (2/20)
Federal court delays trial
for unauthorized whalers (01/25)
Opinion:
Makah Nation shouldn't hunt whales (1/22)
Makah Nation delays trial for unauthorized hunt
(1/21)
Makah chairman confident of
tribe's return to whaling (1/14)
Makah
whalers plead not guilty for illegal hunt (12/12)
Makah Nation charges five for unauthorized hunt
(11/27)
Rogue Makah whalers seek delay in
federal trial (11/12)
Editorial: Makah
hunters to pay price for illegal hunt (10/8)
Rogue Makah hunters indicted on federal charges
(10/5)
Opinion: Makah Nation has treaty
right to hunt (10/5)
Federal probe into Makah
whale hunt ongoing (09/18)
Editorial:
Makah Nation must punish rogue hunters (9/14)
Letters: Readers discuss illegal Makah whale hunt
(9/14)
Makah leaders hopeful after
Washington meetings (9/13)
Column: Makah
Nation shouldn't hunt whales (9/13)
Makah Nation hires former Slade Gorton aide
(9/12)
Editorial: Illegal hunt may be
last for Makah Nation (9/12)
Unauthorized hunt likely to delay action on permit
(9/11)
Editorial: Makah Nation reacts
swiftly to rogue hunt (9/11)
Editorial:
Illegal whale hunters must be punished (9/11)
Makah Nation blasts unauthorized whale hunt
(9/10)
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