Forfeited Plane, Still Faces Possible Fine

A federal judge took a hard line recently against illegally herding deer with an aircraft.

Steven Risse, 59, faces up to one year in prison for using his powered parachute aircraft to chase deer. The Des Moines Register reports he was convicted last week in the December 2004 incident, and was told to forfeit his aircraft.

Another pilot flying with Risse, Harry Moeller, faced similar charges of using aircraft to herd whitetail deer towards hunters near Tama County, IA -- which is prohibted under state and federal laws. A jury found him not guilty.

Risse didn't get off so easily. At his trial in Cedar Rapids, prosecutors alleged Risse used his aircraft to chase down a small herd of deer, and directed them to where his nephew was waiting on the ground. With a gun.

His nephew fired several shots at the animals -- but Risse told the court he did not mean to herd the deer, and that he didn't know his nephew was hunting in the area. The judge didn't buy it.

For the moment, Risse remains free on bond, pending an as-yet-unscheduled sentencing hearing. If convicted, he faces a fine of up to $100,000, and one year probation.

FMI: www.iowadnr.com