HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR101818Koloamanorderedtopaymorethan40Kinfinesforshootingatnene04,
BERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.WALLACE G. REZENTES JR.
Mayor Managing Director
COUNTY OF KAUA'I
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
News Release
For Immediate Release: October 18, 2018
JUSTIN KOLLAR, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
Tel (808) 241-1888
Fax (808) 241-1758
Koloa man ordered to pay more than $40K in fines for shooting at nene
LIHU`E — Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar announced that Steven Cookson, 72, part-
time resident of Koloa, was convicted of five misdemeanor state charges of Taking an
Endangered or Threatened Species and ordered to pay more than $40,000 in fines as a result.
An investigation conducted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service revealed that on Feb. 7, 2017, Cookson used a pellet
gun to kill four nene, and attempted the next day to kill another nene near his residence located
in the Kukui'ula subdivision in Koloa.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Herndon prosecuted the case. Cookson was
represented by Michael Green, Esq. Judge Robert Goldberg handed down the sentence on Oct.
16, 2018.
Cookson entered no contest pleas to each charge in the Environmental Court complaint.
For Counts 1, 2, 3, and 4, Cookson was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $155 in fees, for each
count. For Count 5, Cookson was ordered to pay $155 in fees. As a result, he was ordered to
pay a total of $40,775.
Kollar stated, "We are very grateful to Jean Olbert of the DLNR, and Special Agent
Victoria Owens of the USFWS for their thorough and professional investigation of this matter.
The protection of our threatened and endangered species is an important part of our mission."