The Wenatchee World Online
Tacoma man gets maximum sentence for poaching
Posted July 08, 2008

WENATCHEE — A Tacoma man whose brother killed a trophy buck in an area not open to hunting near Ardenvoir in November has been sentenced to a year in jail, the maximum allowed by law.



Chelan County District Court Judge Alicia Nakata on July 1 also fined 36-year-old Eric Spokely $11,000. Spokely's brother, Jeremy Hale, also of Tacoma, who killed the deer with a bow and arrow, received a deferred sentence for assisting in the prosecution of Spokely, who has some 30 prior hunting and fishing violations, including a dozen for hunting in closed areas, said prosecutor Allen Blackmon.


Blackmon had recommended a 180-day jail sentence for Spokely but Nakata, citing the man's extensive history, handed down the maximum sentence.


— Jay Patrick, World staff


COMMENTS

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You are wrong Jennifer. He has a hunting/fishing conviction from 12 years ago in Washington. He has had over 30 fish/game violations. I think he has been convicted of domestic violence and DUI.

Does the court impose less of a sentence for a violator just because he has kids? Then all criminals would just go have kids and not serve jail. There is no logic in that thinking. He lost the benefit of the doubt years ago from the countless convictions for crimes like this.

By the way, I don't know anyone that has been convicted 30 times for DUI or drug dealing that gets less time than 1 year... The fact is he has never served much of any time on any fish/game cases. It was time a judge took these crimes serious. I mean, for all the stuff in Alaska and he gets 10 days in jail? Ridiculous.
judgment day | Jul 14, 2008 4:50 pm | Request Removal
Go to http://dw.courts.wa.gov/index.cfm?fa=home.namelist

and look under Eric's name. 93 separate court cases mentioned - in Washington. Other states obviously have their own records.
Veteran for Peace | Jul 12, 2008 7:56 am | Request Removal
I need to clear up something. Last night I recieved a call from a brother of these two and he was rather upset with me by saying "We can only be somewhat relived he hasn't esclated to bigger kills." For those of you that my have taken that as a threat upon people-you are incorrect in thinking that way. I meant it in a way of larger animals such as elk.

But I also learned that Jeremy had not assisted in helping with putting his brother in jail. The newspaper has already been asked to correct the publication.

Eric made his own decision by using his ignorance to not keep up with the changes in the regulations. I did have to correct Jennifer's comment by saying it hadn't been 13-15 years ago. But I did cross the line by informing those of you how to find all his charges. But even though I was wrong in doing that, I am not sorry for where Eric is. For those of you who know him personally and call yourselfs' friends and family-you all know he is always looking for a way to 'work the angle'.

As far as the kids go; he should've been more carefull with his decisions. He may feel that it's not his fault he got in trouble, but he should've read the regulations before he went. Ignorance really is bliss.
Amista Moler | Jul 11, 2008 5:17 pm | Request Removal
I thank Jeremy for stepping up and doing the right thing. Even though he is an adult, i'm sure he shot the deer under the influnence of Eric. I share a child with Eric, and have known him for 13 years. Jennifer is lying when she says his violations were 13-15 years ago. He has been charged more times than just 30. The public can access his criminal records by going on line and checking in Pierce, Lewis and Thurston counties. The charges do not include the many time he was under investigation for suspisions. And don't forget the nurmous charges in the state of Alaska. Eric has a very bad addiction. An addiction to killing. The children (2) he has are still young enough to not be influnced by Eric's actions. But we all know that with a history such as Eric's he will never stop killing. We can only be somewhat relived he hasn't esclated to bigger kills.
Amista Moler | Jul 10, 2008 10:03 am | Request Removal
After reading the link anon anon provided, it appears this family has no hope of ever learning how to hunt properly. Hopefully their children don't take up hunting like the parents did.
Randy Burke | Jul 9, 2008 4:28 pm | Request Removal
Jennifer, You and your husband were charged in Alaska? I read the link 'anon anon' provided and this is nothing new with this family. Your kids don't have a chance of learning much if forced to stay at home with a mother who minimizes her and her husbands misdeads and tries to blame others.
It is true that drug dealers and drunk drivers get less time, but see what happens after they get 30 violations. I think you should be happy that your criminal husband is only serving a year.
Don Ribbs | Jul 9, 2008 3:02 pm | Request Removal
A quick Google search brought up this article. There is more to this case than one could imagine.

http://www.all-creatures.org/cash/taah-v-20070802.html
anon anon | Jul 9, 2008 2:18 pm | Request Removal
I agree with Don. Children need to know there a laws that are not made to be broken.

Jeremy may have been guilty, but he helped to solve the final problem, and this part of our justice system too. Thank you, Jeremy. It was the right thing to do.

Oh and by-the-way, Jennifer, you and Eric only have one (1), that is one child, not 3 children, are you trying to appeal to the sympathy of the public by lying too?
Connie Slobody | Jul 9, 2008 1:01 pm | Request Removal
Jennifer, look on the bright side. Your children are being afforded a lesson on crime and punishment, hunting regulations, and Uncle Jeremy's loyality to Daddy.

Hopefully, they will learn from the mistakes or their father. Isn't that all we can really hope for as parents?
Don Ribbs | Jul 9, 2008 12:35 pm | Request Removal
Obviously his punishment in the past didn't solve his issues.

I agree with Don, he shouldn't be allowed to be on public land. People need to respect the wildlife and hunt legally. Look what happened in the past. Wildlife numbers dropped dramatically until hunting regulations were enacted. That's why they are still in force. To preserve the hunting tradition in America. If we have a bunch of morons out shooting whatever they want whenever they want, say bye bye to the wildlife.

Personally, I think they should both be put behind bars. I don't care about no plea bargains. He killed a trophy illegally, he belongs in jail. One year isn't harsh enough to change either of them.
Randy Burke | Jul 9, 2008 9:10 am | Request Removal
I'm confused. Jeremy killed the buck and Eric goes to jail? How does that work? Am I reading this wrong?
Angela Richmond | Jul 9, 2008 9:08 am | Request Removal
Jennifer, this isn't an issue of statute of limitations.

If you feel the need to lay blame and guilt, you might direct that at your husband. 30 past violations? That's a sign that he obviously isn't going to learn from anything other than harsh consequences. How many "second chances" do you give a person? Obviously 30 is the magic number in this case......

Unfortunately it does sound like your kids will have to live without a dad for a year. That sucks big time. But lay the blame where it should be, at the hands of that father......
Kevin L | Jul 9, 2008 8:55 am | Request Removal
Eric has no prior fishing violations!!!! His prior hunting violations were 13-15 years ago in washington. Isn't the Statue of limitation 10 years?? Eric has made bad decisions in the past but 1 year is a little much. There are people who deal drugs and drink and drive who get less time. I guess our 3 kids will have to live without a dad for a year.
Jennifer Spokely | Jul 9, 2008 8:07 am | Request Removal
He should also be trespassed from all public lands during hunting season and lose his right to possess hunting or fishing equipment.
Don Ribbs | Jul 8, 2008 10:45 am | Request Removal
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