Darby man sentenced to 14 days for bear poaching case

HAMILTON — A 26-year-old Darby man has been sentenced to 14 days in jail and ordered to pay $5,100 in restitution and fines for illegally killing a black bear.

Justice of the Peace Jim Bailey also revoked Kyle Whyard’s hunting and trapping privileges for five years.

Whyard is one of three men charged last July after wardens investigated reports that black bears were being illegally baited and killed. He pleaded guilty Thursday to unlawful possession of a large game animal, aiding in wasting game meat and providing a false statement to law enforcement.

Co-defendant James Harrison faces five felony charges. Court records say the investigation began when Harrison called a game warden to report that Whyard and another man had each killed a bear. State officials then received an anonymous call that Harrison had also illegally killed bears.