TIP (Turn in Poachers) Calls Result in Four Arrests
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says numerous calls to the state’s Turn in Poachers program led to the arrests of four people on deer poaching related charges.
The main defendant in the case is 37-year-old Joshua Liebl of Dawson. Officials say a search of his home in western Minnesota resulted in the seizure of 37 guns and 28 deer antler sets. 11 of the antler sets were shoulder mounts and the DNR says most appeared to be from trophy class animals. The agency also seized Liebl’s pickup truck, which contained the carcass of an unregistered 8-point buck that had been shot by a high-powered rifle.
Other evidence collected in the search warrants resulted in charges being filed against:
- Kevin Martinson, 58, of Plymouth, for illegally lend/borrow a deer license.
- Nate Viesman, 32, of Watson, was charged with illegal party hunting, lend/borrow a deer license, over limit of deer (one of which was a trophy class buck) and two counts of failure to register deer.
- Daniel Lien, 33, also of Dawson, a passenger in Liebl’s truck when it was stopped on Oct. 21, has been charged with gross misdemeanor aiding and abetting unlawful transportation of big game.
Liebl has been charged with gross misdemeanor transporting illegally taken big game, gross misdemeanor use of an artificial light to take deer, hunting during prohibited time, gross misdemeanor trespassing, and two counts of failure to register deer.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
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