From Indianz:
A federal magistrate convicted two members of the Makah Nation of Washington for hunting a gray whale without federal approval.
Wayne Johnson and Andy Noel were convicted of conspiracy to violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act and unlawfully taking a marine mammal. They waived the right to a jury trial but plan to take their case to the >9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Johnson and Noel face up to one year in prison Three other tribal members who participated in the hunt pleaded guilty in exchange for no prison time.
Get the Story:
Judge finds whalers guilty (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 4/8)
Judge Convicts 2 Makah in Whale Hunt (AP 4/8)
Relevant Documents:
Tribal Council Statement | Makah Tribal Whale Hunt | Marine Mammal Protection Act
Court Decisions:
Anderson v. Evans (June 7, 2004) | Anderson v. Evans (December 20, 2002)
Three other whalers pled guilty. Our post with the motions to dismiss on the basis of treaty rights, statutory interpretation, etc. is here.
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