Vaughn Man Convicted For Illegal Hybrid Sheep Creation & Sale

Vaughan, Montana Man Sentenced To Six Months In Federal Prison

From the Associated Press:

Arthur "Jack" Schubarth, Vaughn, was sentenced Monday, October 1, 2024 to 6 months in a federal prison for using tissue and testicles from a large wild sheep killed in Central Asia and the United States to create hybrid sheep for trophy hunting in Texas and Minnesota.

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Schubarth was also ordered to pay $4,000 to the US Fish and Wildlife Foundation and was fined $20,000. Schubarth will have to self-report to a Bureau of Prisons medical facility.

The District Judge Grappled With The Sentence

U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris said it was difficult to come up with a sentence while considering Schubarth's age, 81, and clean criminal record. Judge Morris said he wanted to render a sentence that would stop someone else from trying to alter the genetic make-up of an animal.

Look: Cascade County Most Wanted, October, 2024

The Conspiracy Allegedly Started In 2013

In March, 2024, the Associated Press reported that Schubarth and others wanted to make giant sheep hybrid animals from cross-breeding different species to charge hunters at hunting preserves higher prices to kill captive trophy animals.

Schubarth obtained biological tissue from a Kyrgyzstan Marco Polo argali sheep, one of the biggest species of sheep in the world. The embryos were implanted into an ewe and a Montana Mountain King sheep was born. This sheep was then used to impregnate other sheep and the offspring were sold for up to $10,000.

Montana Mountain King Sheep Is Being Held By US Fish & Wildlife

The Montana Mountain King sheep is in custody until they can find it a home at a zoo.  As part of the plea deal federal wildlife officials may inspect and neuter any of the animals.

Schubarth will not be allowed to breed game stock while he's on probation.