U.S. v. Green, 77-5188

Decision Date05 April 1978
Docket NumberNo. 77-5188,77-5188
Citation571 F.2d 1
PartiesUNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Benny Huie GREEN, Defendant-Appellant.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Sixth Circuit

E. W. Rivers, Melton, Rivers & Utter, Paducah, Ky., for defendant-appellant.

Albert Jones, U. S. Atty., David L. Huber, David S. Stierle, Louisville, Ky., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before EDWARDS and ENGEL, Circuit Judges, and THORNTON, * Senior District Judge.

PER CURIAM.

Appellant Green was convicted after trial before District Judge Charles Allen for "taking" mourning doves "on or over any baited area," in violation of 50 C.F.R. § 20.21, promulgated under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. § 703 et seq. (1970). He was sentenced to six months, with all but 15 days suspended, and fined $450.

There was ample proof (albeit vigorously disputed by the hunters) from which the District Judge could find, as he did, that the small island in the Ohio River where Green and 64 others were arrested with guns and dead birds in possession had been baited with wheat and corn.

The regulation provides in pertinent part:

No person shall take migratory game birds:

(i) By the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited area. As used in this paragraph, "baiting" shall mean the placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed so as to constitute for such birds a lure, attraction or enticement to, on, or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them; and "baited area" means any area where shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed whatsoever capable of luring, attracting, or enticing such birds is directly or indirectly placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered; and such area shall remain a baited area for 10 days following complete removal of all such corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed.

50 C.F.R. § 20.21(i) (1976).

While the proofs do not specifically show that Green knew that the field was baited, the District Judge could have inferred such knowledge from the testimony of extensive baiting and the presence of 65 hunters with dead doves. More importantly, however, the regulation did not require proof of knowledge. United States v. Ireland, 493 F.2d 1208, 1209 (4th Cir. 1973).

We note appellant's reliance upon Allen v. Merovka, 382 F.2d 589 (...

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6 cases
  • U.S. v. Engler
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Third Circuit
    • December 23, 1986
    ...(1985); United States v. Brandt, 717 F.2d 955 (6th Cir.1983); United States v. FMC Corp., 572 F.2d 902 (2d Cir.1978); United States v. Green, 571 F.2d 1 (6th Cir.1977); United States v. Ireland, 493 F.2d 1208 (4th Cir.1973); United States v. Wood, 437 F.2d 91 (9th Cir.1971); Rogers v. Unite......
  • Stepniewski v. Gagnon
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
    • April 12, 1984
    ... ...         The regulation before us does not threaten the first due process consideration. A state cannot require a defendant to prove ... Similarly, in United ... States v. Green, 571 F.2d 1 (6th Cir.1978), the court affirmed a conviction under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 ... ...
  • United States v. Atkinson, 78-CR-175.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Wisconsin
    • April 23, 1979
    ...is constitutional despite its lack of an intent requirement. See, e. g., United States v. Jarman, supra, at 766-767; United States v. Green, 571 F.2d 1 (6th Cir. 1977); United States v. Ireland, 493 F.2d 1208 (4th Cir. 1973); United States v. Ardoin, 431 F.Supp. 493 (W.D.La.1977); United St......
  • U.S. v. Wulff, 84-1213
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Sixth Circuit
    • April 3, 1985
    ...See United States v. Catlett, 747 F.2d 1102 (6th Cir.1984); United States v. Brandt, 717 F.2d 955 (6th Cir.1983); and United States v. Green, 571 F.2d 1 (6th Cir.1978). Other courts that have addressed the issue are in accord. See United States v. Ireland, 493 F.2d 1208 (4th Cir.1973); Unit......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
1 books & journal articles
  • The dilemma of mental state in federal regulatory crimes: the environmental example.
    • United States
    • Environmental Law Vol. 25 No. 4, September 1995
    • September 22, 1995
    ...Brandt, 717 F.2d 955, 956-59 (6th Cir. 1983); United States v. Delahoussaye, 573 F.2d 910, 912-13 (5th Cir. 1978); United States v. Green, 571 F.2d 1, 1-2 (6th Cir. 1977); United States v. Wood, 437 F.2d 91, 92 (9th Cir. In addition, various district courts have also decided "baited fields"......

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