AUBURN — A Turner man convicted of a dozen hunting violations in 2013 pleaded guilty Thursday morning in Androscoggin County Superior Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Everett Leonard, 38, was sentenced to five years in prison with all but two years suspended and two years of probation.
Justice MaryGay Kennedy said probation conditions included not being in the presence of people engaged in hunting, and not possessing firearms, game cameras or tree stands.
“Basically, you can have nothing to do with hunting,” she said.
As part of the plea agreement, the state agreed to dismiss five additional counts, including refusing to submit to arrest or detention, violation of conditions of release, violation of a protective order, and having a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
Leonard was convicted in 2012 of 12 hunting violations, including molesting wildlife, driving deer, hunting after revocation and night hunting.
In 2011, he was sentenced to 3½ to 14 months in prison, plus 18 months probation, for hunting violations in Pennsylvania.
He had pleaded guilty to 11 illegal killings and 14 other game offenses, including hunting at night, hunting from vehicles and having loaded guns in vehicles.
Assistant District Attorney Andrew Matulis told Kennedy that if the case had gone to trial, the state would have called Maine Game Warden Dave Chabot as a witness.
Matulis said that on Nov. 24, 2016, Chabot received information that Leonard was in possession of a firearm. Later that day, Chabot said that he saw Leonard driving by in hunter orange clothing.
Chabot pulled him over and Leonard opened the back door of his truck, where Chabot was able to see a firearm in the back seat.
“A small chase ensued, and upon being arrested and being read his Miranda rights, the defendant admitted to possessing a firearm despite knowing he was a prohibited person,” Matulis said.
Kennedy allowed Leonard to remain free until 9 a.m. Sept. 5 so he could work and provide for his family.
Everett T. Leonard, 38, of Turner, right, entered guilty pleas to hunting charges in Androscoggin County Superior Court in Auburn in December 2012. On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to five years in prison, with all but two years suspended.
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