Montana Man Sentenced for Wildlife Violations

Arthur 'Jack' Schubarth, an 81-year-old Montana man, has been sentenced to six months in prison for illegally cloning a giant Marco Polo sheep using imported sperm, in violation of federal wildlife trafficking laws. Despite his advanced age and lack of criminal record, Judge Brian Morris emphasized the need to deter similar illegal activities. Schubarth, who owns Sun River Enterprises LLC, a ranch specializing in alternative livestock for trophy hunting, was also fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $4,000 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The cloned sheep, named Montana Mountain King, has been confiscated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. While Schubarth's attorney argued that the cloning has ruined his client's life, the prosecution highlighted the widespread and complex nature of the illegal breeding operation. Schubarth pleaded guilty to the charges, and the crime has drawn comparisons to the fictional scenarios in Michael Crichton's 'Jurassic Park.'