Shepherd man denies illegally killing deer and elk

Billings, Mont. (AP) – A 60-year-old Shepherd man accused of
illegally killing several mule deer bucks during the 2008 hunting
season has pleaded not guilty.

Jimmie Roberts appeared in Yellowstone County District Court on
Tuesday and denied a felony charge of unlawful possession of a game
animal. He also pleaded not guilty to eight related misdemeanor
charges.

Roberts is set to be arraigned later this month in Musselshell
County District Court on similar charges stemming from the killing
of two elk during last year’s hunting season.

Court records say an informant called authorities to report that
on opening day of big game season he received a call from Roberts’
wife asking him for help retrieving an elk that her husband had
killed. Roberts is accused of driving to an area in Musselshell
County where he said he killed a bull elk and wounded a cow elk. He
was unable to find the carcasses.

A landowner discovered the dead elk, and authorities found parts
of four antlered mule deer and one buck antelope during a November
2008 search of Roberts’ property.