An Alabama man was recently convicted in a decades-old Wyoming Game and Fish Department wildlife case after failing to appear in court for more than 20 years.
Kenny Craig, 53, of Elkmont, Alabama, and formerly of Lysite, Wyoming, was arrested in March 2024 on a bench warrant issued in February 2000 after failing to appear in court for many hunting violations.
Craig was apprehended by the Wyoming Highway Patrol after a traffic stop in Crook County. He was taken to jail and then released on a $1,000 bond.
Craig was convicted on June 25, 2024, in Fremont County Circuit Court for the original wildlife violations he committed during the 1998 hunting season. As part of a plea deal, 9th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Dan Stebner accepted Craig’s no-contest plea to one count of deer hunting without a license. He was forced to pay $410 in fines and court expenses, plus $1,000 in restitution for the illegally seized buck mule deer. His hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges were suspended for three years. In exchange for his plea, three other counts were dropped, and two more offenses were not charged.
Craig’s infractions stretch back to October 24, 1998, when he illegally slaughtered a 5-by-5 buck mule deer in Game and Fish’s Sand Mesa Wildlife Habitat Management Area near Riverton. He was hunting in Deer Hunt Region 157, a limited-quota region, using a generic deer license that was not acceptable for that hunting area. Craig failed to tag the deer and then illegally validated it with his brother’s limited-quota license.
Craig also illegally bought a Wyoming resident general deer and elk license before completing the state’s residence requirements. He had only resided in Wyoming for three months after migrating from New Mexico. Before applying for or obtaining a resident hunting or fishing license in Wyoming, a person must have lived in the state for at least one year. Craig also failed to finish the necessary hunter education course, which is required of anybody born after January 1, 1966.
In the fall of 1999, Game and Fish initiated an investigation into Craig. Chris Daubin and Brad Gibb, both retired game wardens, investigated the matter. The investigation concluded with the issuance of four must-appear citations, and two more offenses remain pending. Craig was supposed to appear in court in late October 1999, but he failed to do so and fled to Alabama.
A bench warrant was issued in February 2000, but Craig remained out of Wyoming until his current arrest.
“There is no statute of limitations for wildlife crimes in Wyoming,” said Lander Region Wildlife Supervisor Jason Hunter. “Cases like these send a clear message: wildlife crimes will not be ignored, no matter how much time has passed.
“Lawful sportsmen take great care to apply for the correct licenses in the correct areas and follow the existing laws and regulations. It shows respect for the resource, too. Violators must be held accountable when they don’t follow the rules. This ensures there are opportunities for all users to enjoy the wildlife resource well into the future.”
While all of the original investigating officers, prosecutors, and judges in the case have already retired, Fremont County Attorney Pat LeBrun and Assistant County Attorney Ember Oakley prosecuted the charges using thorough case files compiled by officers at the time.
“I’m pleased that Mr. Craig has been held accountable for his wildlife crimes in Wyoming,” Oakley said. “This case demonstrates the exceptional work of our Wyoming wardens and their dedication to thorough investigations. Even 20 years after the crime, we were able to pick the case up and complete the prosecution. Their top-notch work is essential to protecting our state’s wildlife.”