HURRICANE, Utah, Nov. 12, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The mayor of Hurricane has been formally charged in connection with two counts of aiding or assisting a wildlife violation.
John Wayne Bramall, 59, was charged Thursday in 6th District Court, in Kane County, with two counts of aiding and assisting in the wanton destruction of protected wildlife.
According to court documents, on Oct. 22, Bramall allegedly assisted two men in killing two deer — one of trophy size — which had become trapped in a fenced area on his property, where he legally raises elk.
The men did not have hunting licenses to allow them to kill protected deer in that area of the state, so the case was classified as poaching.
If the case goes to trial and the mayor is convicted, Bramall faces a maximum of five years in prison for the felony charge and another year in jail on the misdemeanor count.
The incident was discovered when authorities stopped and questioned the two men, identified as Gordon Wesley Marble, 58, and John Wesley Marble, 29, of West Point. The two were booked on suspicion of poaching a trophy-category deer (Gordon Marble) and wanton destruction of protected wildlife (John Marble). They were arrested on Oct. 22 and released on bail the next day. Formal charges against the two are pending.
Bramall has served as Hurricane’s mayor since January 2014. His term ends in 2018.
Soooo…. Where’s the update on this case? I heard that the Fish & Game screwed up & offered a misdemeanor plea bargain right away after Mr. Bramall produced his evidence only to save face for erroneously charging him in the first place.
Where are the news stories on the government agencies screwing up?
Sometimes the investigating officers get tied up in hype and act before all facts are in. They could have just as easily investigated thoroughly before charging. I’m a retired police officer and have seen this numerous times. Take your time and get a good bust, not a sloppy one.