A famous Iowa couple and YouTube influencers accused of violating wildlife protection laws pleaded guilty after vowing to overturn the Lacey Act. Now, they face parting with $138,000 in fines.
Josh Bowmar, 32, and Sarah Bowmar, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, a U.S. federal law that was enforced in 1900 to prohibit interstate wildlife offenses. According to the Des Moines Register, Josh Bowman hunted deer in three Nebraska counties, while Sarah Bowman hunted deer and turkeys in a baited area between 2015 and 2017 before transporting them across state lines.
Thirty other people were charged with multiple counts, including Hidden Hills owner Jacob Hueftle who hosted 118 clients to utilize illegal bait traps for hunting white-tailed deer. Though Hueftle was sentenced in 2020 to 30 months in federal prison, the Bowmans promised on their social media platforms to overturn the Lacey Act in defiance during an expected court battle.
However, on Oct. 19, 2022, the defendants pleaded guilty in exchange for prosecutors to drop the initial six-count charges. Under the plea agreement, the Bowmans will each pay a $44,000 forfeiture money judgment. In addition, at the time of their sentencing, the couple will pay $25,000 to the Lacey Act Reward Account.
The Bowmars' attorney Kline Preston argued the act was very easy to break, and when carried across stateliness, it easily became a federal case with huge penalties.
“This is a fight between ethical hunters, the Bowmars, and the federal government which is using the Lacey Act against them. The Lacey Act is an abusive piece of federal legislation that is used to excessively punish hunters for alleged minor infractions which are the equivalent of a speeding ticket under state law. The Lacey Act makes a traffic-like offense into a serious federal case. It is often abused by forcing honest, ethical hunters to plead guilty in order to avoid the risk of excessive fines and substantial jail time,” said Preston prior to the plea deal, reported DDH.
The Bowmars have approximately 1.5 million followers and over 250 subscribers on their YouTube channel. The couple met while participating in an Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition in Columbus, Ohio. Since then, the Bowmars have become renowned as fitness and hunting influencers.
Though sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2023, the judge is not bound by the plea agreement and could impose a harsher sentence.
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