Sterling, Nebraska man fined for hunting violations

TECUMSEH - A Sterling man has been fined and must pay liquidated damages for hunting violations.

39-year-old Jason Harms, of Sterling was convicted on nine counts relating to the illegal hunting of geese that occurred on February 26th in Johnson County.

Harms was fined $1,700 and assessed $3,900 in liquidated damages. His hunting permits have been revoked for two years.

The discovery of several dead geese near sanitation ponds south of Sterling, led to the arrest.  Sheriff’s officers were notified by a group of hunters, who discovered numerous dead and injured snow geese on February 26^th.

A deputy investigating noted that 51 snow geese and one white-fronted goose had been killed. The birds had been shot.  The geese were out of season as of the date of the discovery.  The deputy also found five spent shotgun shells on Sterling village property.

The case was investigated by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and the Johnson County Attorney’s Office.