DRAKESBORO, Ky. — A Kentucky hunting guide was ordered by a Muhlenberg County judge Thursday to pay $44,000 in restitution for operating an illegal turkey hunting operation.
Last spring, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division game wardens discovered Timothy Smithwick, 59, of Drakesboro, was running an illegal guide service on his property. Game wardens and the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Special Investigations Unit conducted a joint investigation into Smithwick guiding hunters without proper licensing and illegally baiting his property for turkey.
Compliance checks were conducted on the property in May. Smithwick was arrested on a bench warrant for numerous fish and wildlife charges, including eight counts of illegal take of turkey and eight counts of illegal guiding, as well as trapping violations and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Five people from Georgia were cited for various offenses, including hunting without a license, hunting with unplugged shotguns and illegal take or pursuit of turkey:
- Jason Johnson, 39, of Perry, Georgia.
- Colby Stancil, 26, of Jasper.
- James Stancil, 64, of Jasper.
- Joseph Todd, 30, of Lyons.
- Charles Jones, 51, of Jasper.
Colby Stancil was arrested after fleeing into a wooded area to hide an unplugged shotgun, electronic turkey calls and illegal drugs.
