Federal judge convicts rogue whalers

[n2doc]

By PAUL SHUKOVSKY
P-I REPORTER

TACOMA -- A federal judge Monday found two Makah tribal members guilty of hunting and killing a gray whale.

Wayne Johnson and Andy Noel waived a jury trial and stipulated to the basic facts of the rogue hunt last September, admitting that they killed the protected marine mammal.

Magistrate Judge J. Kelley Arnold then swiftly found the pair guilty.

The move by Johnson and Noel, who now intend to appeal, was prompted by Arnold's pre-trial ruling last week barring a defense based on religious and cultural liberties.

"We admitted it was us -- we admitted we hunted a whale -- so we can get on with the appeal," said Noel's attorney, Jack Fiander.

At sentencing June 20, Johnson and Noel face up to a year in jail for both the violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and conspiracy to do so.

more:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/358080_makah08.html