Portales men sentenced for poaching

PORTALES, N.M. (AP) - Two Portales men have been fined after pleading guilty in separate poaching cases.

New Mexico Game and Fish officials say 21-year-old Jacob Gaines was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2,255 for poaching deer and antelope. He originally faced 31 counts of poaching-related crimes after a lengthy investigation by state officials and Roosevelt County sheriff's deputies.

Gaines entered a plea agreement.

In a second case, 23-year-old Wade Richardson was fined $467 after pleading guilty to unlawful killing of an antelope. He admitted taking a buck when he had a license for a female or immature antelope.

Both men face possible civil damages because the animals were considered trophy quality.