A Kaua’i man has been sentenced to six months in a federal prison for taking two severely injured green turtles protected by federal law. Daniel Isobe, 34, a fisherman, will be placed at a mainland prison selected by the Justice
A Kaua’i man has been sentenced to six months in a federal prison for taking two severely injured green turtles protected by federal law.
Daniel Isobe, 34, a fisherman, will be placed at a mainland prison selected by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Prisons, according to Crag Nakamura, the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case.
The sentence was handed down Monday by U.S. Magistrate Barry Kuren after Isobe pleaded guilty to taking a green sea turtle in violation of the Endangered Species Act and to violating the Lacey Act, which makes it unlawful to transport a turtle that has been taken or possessed illegally.
Prior to sentencing, Isobe had been out on an unsecured bond of $10,000.
Nakamura said two adult turtles were found in the bed of Isobe’s pickup truck in Lihu’e on the morning of Nov. 2, 2000, after Isobe was stopped by a Kaua’i County Police officer for speeding.
Nakamura told Kurren that there were “commercial aspects” to the case, and that Isobe had made comments to investigators he was in possession of the turtles to fill an order for a party.
Green turtles have been used in human dishes, including soup.
The heads of the female turtle, which weighed 250 pounds and was capable of reproducing, and the male turtle, which weighed 200 pounds, had been smashed, according to authorities.
The male turtle died from its injuries while en route to a biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources for an examination. The female turtle was in such bad shape that it had to be euthanized by a Kaua’i veterinarian, Nakamura said.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
