Utah
Utah hunting guide charged with baiting bear for Trump Jr., leading separate ‘canned hunt’
Donald Trump Jr. speaks on KSL NewsRadio on Sept. 21, 2016. A Utah searching information has been charged with baiting a bear throughout a 2018 expedition with Trump Jr. in Utah’s Carbon County and one other felony accusing him of main a consumer on a “canned hunt” in Millard County. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information)
Estimated learn time: 5-6 minutes
PRICE — A Utah searching information is going through a felony cost accusing him of baiting a bear throughout an expedition in Carbon County with Donald Trump Jr.
Wade Cox Lemon, 61, of Holden, Millard County, was charged final week in seventh District Court docket with wanton destruction of protected wildlife, a third-degree felony. The case was filed by Davis County Legal professional Troy Rawlings on behalf of the Utah Legal professional Common’s Workplace, in keeping with court docket data.
Lemon was additionally charged in a separate case on Monday with one other depend of wanton destruction of protected wildlife, a third-degree felony, in Millard County’s 4th District Court docket for an incident on Jan. 24, 2021. That case filed by Benjamin B. Willoughby, a prosecutor with the Davis County Legal professional’s Workplace, on behalf of the lawyer basic’s workplace.
When requested why Davis County prosecutors filed the costs, the Utah Legal professional Common’s Workplace referred all questions Monday to Davis County. Utah Legal professional Common Sean Reyes is a longtime supporter of former President Donald Trump. Reyes’ web site features a part known as “Standing with Trump,” which incorporates photos of him with the previous president and Donald Trump Jr.
Lemon operates Wade Lemon Searching, which on its web site promotes itself as: “Your premium large recreation searching clothes shop since 1978.”
Though court docket paperwork solely listing the one that killed the bear as a “consumer,” the Utah Division of Pure Assets confirmed that Trump Jr. had two permits for the hunt. “These point out the harvest of 1 bear and one cougar in Might 2018 in Carbon County with Wade Lemon offering information providers,” the division mentioned in a press release Monday.
On Might 18, 2018, Lemon guided a bear hunt in Carbon County. “The tip of the hunt is recorded exhibiting the bear surrounded by a pack of searching canine earlier than the consumer shoots and kills the animal,” in keeping with charging paperwork.
A involved witness, who acknowledged Lemon and the consumer, reported the hunt to the Utah Division of Wildlife Assets. The witness “listened to radio visitors and heard Wade Lemon say to let the canine go. The witness entered the world after the group left. The witness noticed {that a} part of filth highway had been dragged with a log to organize the highway to indicate a bear monitor,” the costs state.
The witness additionally discovered straw used to line the cages of the searching canine, a pile of grain, oil and pastries, and a path digital camera strapped to a tree pointing within the course of the bait, in keeping with the costs. Investigators say the digital camera had “WLH” written on it together with Lemon’s cellphone quantity.
“DWR brokers met with the witness on web site and documented the graded highway, straw, path digital camera and half-eaten bait,” in keeping with the charging paperwork.
Investigators additionally interviewed a number of others “who knew the bear was baited to the property the place it was pursued,” the costs say, including that one witness mentioned “that he has recognized for years” which spots Lemon makes use of to bait bears.
It’s towards the legislation in Utah to lure a bear to a bait station after which chase it with canine.
The case was initially investigated by the Utah Division of Wildlife Assets, “however we felt we wanted extra proof to show that the bear bait had been used to lure the bear earlier than it was harvested utilizing canine,” a DWR spokeswoman mentioned.
The case was closed, with the choice of reopening it if any new proof was found.
“In later reviewing this investigation report, there have been elements of the investigation that we needed to higher perceive, which led us to requesting a overview by the Utah Legal professional Common’s Workplace. Within the Utah lawyer basic’s investigation, they had been in a position to collect extra proof, ensuing within the submitting of a third-degree felony,” in keeping with the DWR.
Rawlings didn’t return KSL.com’s name for remark Monday, however informed the Salt Lake Tribune that there isn’t any proof that the “consumer” or hunter on this case knew in regards to the alleged baiting.
On the Wade Lemon Searching Instagram account, a put up from Might 21, 2018, talks about spending “a couple of days within the area attending to know @donaldtrumpjr.”
“His ardour for searching and the outside is real and contagious to all of us,” the put up states. “Your entire WLH crew had been all blown away by not solely what a great hunter he’s, however what a great individual he’s.”
Trump Jr.’s Instagram account features a put up from Might 19, 2018, which states, “Nice weekend in Utah with some good mates within the open air” and later states, “Numerous high quality time within the woods hanging out at 10,000 toes.”
An preliminary look for Lemon in his 2018 case is scheduled for June 13.
In keeping with the charging paperwork filed on Monday, the Utah Legal professional Common’s Workplace opened an investigation into Lemon in 2021 relating to allegations that he “was guiding purchasers on ‘canned hunts’ — a hunt the place the paying consumer is introduced in after the animal has already been situated.”
A confidential informant met with investigators in Meadow Canyon in Millard County and knowledgeable them he had discovered a mountain lion monitor. He then discovered the mountain lion and knowledgeable Lemon about it, who then organized for a consumer from Sandy to reach, the charging paperwork allege. Investigators reported hiding on the ridge and watching as Lemon led the consumer in.
“The investigators noticed Lemon’s searching get together arrive on ATVs and watched because the group walked towards the place the mountain lion had been treed,” the court docket paperwork state.
The consumer then shot the mountain lion, and was later interviewed by investigators.
“The consumer reported that he had no concept the hunt was canned and didn’t notice the mountain lion had already been situated earlier than he arrived,” in keeping with the costs.