Wasilla man charged with wildlife crimes

A Wasilla man has been found guilty of 23 misdemeanor fish and wildlife violations in Anchorage District Count.

Kurt Lepping, 55, was convicted of same day airborne hunting, guiding without a big game license, having an unpermitted black bear bait station, guiding a sport fish without a license and several other violations.

The violations occurred in Game Management Unit 16B.  Alaska Wildlife Troopers began an investigation in June 2008.  Multiple search warrants were issued in Alaska, Washington and Utah.  Troopers seized two aircraft owned by Lepping.

Troopers determined that Lepping was guiding illegally in 2005 and 2006.  He took non resident clients to black bear bait stations in 2007 and 2008.

A sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for January 2011.

Lepping and his son were charged with poisoning moose carcasses to kill wolves in 2001.  At that time he was indicted on 18 counts of illegal guiding and other wildlife crimes.