Colorado man gets 27 months for illegal cougar hunting

A Colorado man was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on Thursday for his role in illegal mountain lion and bobcat hunts as a big game hunting outfitter.

Christopher Loncarich, 55, of Mack, pleaded guilty in August to a felony conspiracy charge in his sale of outfitting services in Colorado and Utah, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.

Loncarich pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, which makes it illegal to knowingly transport or sell in interstate commerce any wildlife that has been taken or possessed in violation of state laws. The sentence was handed down in Denver.

Loncarich was indicted by a federal grand jury — the result of a three-year investigation — in January for his role in providing for “numerous” illegal hunts between 2007 and 2010.

“In particular, Loncarich and his confederates trapped, shot and caged mountain lions and bobcats prior to hunts in order to provide easier chases of the cats for clients,” the department said. “Loncarich also admitted that he and his assistants guided several hunters that did not possess a Utah mountain lion or bobcat license on mountain lion or bobcat hunts in Utah.”

Loncarich sold cougar hunts for between $3,500 and $7,500 and bobcat hunts for between $700 and $1,500, officials said.

Ron Velarde, northwest regional manager of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, called Loncarich’s operation one of the worst examples of poaching he has seen in his 40-plusyear career managing Colorado’s wildlife.

Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul