KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A grand jury has indicted a Tennessee man on two counts of transporting wildlife across the state line after violating Kansas hunting laws in Stafford County. The charges were made Thursday at the U.S. District Court in Kansas City.
William “Spook” Spann, 49, is charged with two counts of transporting wildlife from Kansas to Tennessee that he obtained in violation of state hunting laws in Kansas. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in November 2007.
In count one, the indictment alleges he purchased a white-tailed deer and transported its antlers from Stafford County to Tennessee, knowing the deer had been taken in violation of state hunting laws. In count two, the indictment alleges he purchased a white-tailed deer and falsely reported to the owner of the land, identified as LZ, that the deer was not taken on LZ’s property.
If convicted, Spann faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $20,000 on count one and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on count two. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.