IA DNR: Lemars Man Receives Jail Time, Loses Trapping Privileges Until 2024

LEMARS - James Urban, 46, from LeMars, was found guilty of unlawful possession of furbearing animals by a jury and sentenced to 365 days in jail, with all but 120 days suspended. Urban was fined $1,039 which includes surcharges and court costs, assessed $8,050 in liquidated damages, forfeited about $18,000 worth of traps and trapping equipment and had his license suspended until 2024. The case came to a close on May 8.

Urban has had 12 prior trapping convictions dating back to 1989, and had his trapping privileges suspended since 2002. This was Urban’s fourth trapping related offense while he was under suspension. The charges were aggravated misdemeanors. “We normally don’t get aggravated misdemeanors with fish and game violations,” said Chad Morrow, conservation officer with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in Plymouth and Cherokee counties. “Hopefully, this last sentence will have an impact on him.”

This most recent case found Urban trapping illegally in Woodbury, Plymouth and Cherokee counties, but he has trapped in many other counties in northwest Iowa.

The case began in September 2006, when officers, suspecting Urban had been trapping while his license was suspended, served a search warrant on his house in January 2007 and discovered trapping equipment and 40 raccoons and one badger. Before the trial began, Urban was convicted of probation violation from his previous cases and served 135 days in jail.

Urban will be on probation for two years upon his release from jail, and while on probation he cannot trap, be in possession of any traps or accompany anyone who is trapping.

The case was a cooperative effort among conservation officers in the northwest district.