Alaskan Conservation Director Resigns, Charged With 12 Hunting Violations

A top Alaska wildlife department official has resigned in the wake of numerous hunting violations

From this story in the Bellingham (Wash) Herald:

A top official in the Alaska Department of Fish and Game quit his job Thursday after being charged with 12 criminal hunting violations, state officials said. The charges against Division of Wildlife Conservation Director Corey Rossi, a controversial 2010 appointment, are related to an illegal 2008 bear hunt, according to Alaska State Troopers and charges filed Thursday in state court. Troopers say the division director lied on big game hunting reports. He was a licensed assistant big game guide at the time, according to troopers. Rossi, 51, submitted his resignation on Thursday, according an email from Fish and Game Commissioner Cora Campbell.

In a report posted Thursday afternoon, troopers say Rossi aided two non-residents in the killing of three black bears in Game Management Unit 16B, in the Susitna Valley. Rossi also killed a bear himself during the same hunt, troopers say. But Rossi lied on reports to the state, saying that he killed all four bears and that the out-of-state hunters were unsuccessful, according to troopers. Alaska Wildlife Troopers investigated the case after learning about the accusations through an unrelated investigation conducted by an out-of-state law enforcement agency, according to the charges.

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