Little Bay de Noc Fishing Reports

ESCANABA - A Garden man - recently arrested in connection with illegal commercial fishing operations on Little Bay de Noc - waived his right to an arraignment in Delta County District Court Tuesday.

John Elmer Halverson, 52, of 15641 17th Road, Garden, was arrested last week on a charge of conspiracy to sell fish taken without a commercial fishing license. The misdemeanor carries a maximum sentencing of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Halverson was allegedly involved in illegal fishing operations along with three Rapid River residents who were prosecuted and sentenced in tribal court this summer. Halverson is cited for unlawfully conspiring with the three men in the illegal sale of fish.

Andrew, John and Kevin Schwartz - brothers from Rapid River and members of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians - were sentenced in August on 79 violations of tribal rules relating to commercial fishing. The incidents occurred in early 2009 and were investigated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment (DNRE).

The three men each had their tribal fishing rights taken away during their joint sentencing at the tribal center in Manistique Aug. 20.

They were assessed $13,175 in fines and costs and $15,214 in restitution.

On Sept. 16, the Schwartz's filed an appeal to the tribal judge's order, including restitution.

A warrant to arrest Halverson was authorized by the Delta County prosecutor Oct. 25. After reviewing the warrant request, the county magistrate requested on Nov. 1 for a DNRE officer to apprehend Halverson.

According to the official complaint filed by Conservation Officer Cpl. Shannon VanPatten, the arresting officer, Halverson allegedly committed the crime during a period from 2004-2009 in "various locations in Delta County."

Halverson was arrested by VanPatten Thursday. He posted a $1,000 cash bond and was released from police custody. Halverson was scheduled to be arraigned in district court today but waived that right on Tuesday.

VanPatten was the first to discover the illegal fishing after reviewing commercial fisheries records in late 2008. She noticed an unusually high amount of walleye being sold in the wholesale commercial fish market throughout the winter months during past years. Records also showed an unexplained drop in angler harvests.

Following surveillance, the DNRE seized 265 pounds of fish illegally harvested from Little Bay de Noc and 1,200 feet of gill nets in February 2009. Officials estimated more than 72,000 pounds of walleye and other fish were illegally fished from the bay during a five-year period.

Property later seized during the investigation included four gills nets and four snowmobiles, which remain in the possession of tribal police.