Judge convicts two Makah whalers for illegal hunt

Tuesday, April 8, 2008  

A federal magistrate convicted two members of the Makah Nation of Washington for hunting a gray whale without federal approval.

Wayne Johnson and Andy Noel were convicted of conspiracy to violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act and unlawfully taking a marine mammal. They waived the right to a jury trial but plan to take their case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Johnson and Noel face up to one year in prison Three other tribal members who participated in the hunt pleaded guilty in exchange for no prison time.

Get the Story:
Judge finds whalers guilty (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 4/8)
Judge Convicts 2 Makah in Whale Hunt (AP 4/8)

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)

Related Stories:
Three Makah whalers plead guilty for illegal hunt (3/28)
Column: Respect Makah Nation's hunting rights (3/26)
Editorial: Put an end to Makah Nation whale hunts (3/26)
Makah whalers reject plea deal for illegal hunt (3/25)
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)