A man was sentenced to six months in federal prison for his role in an illegal operation to breed hybrid sheep for captive trophy hunting.
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Arthur “Jack” Schubarth,81, the owner of Sun River Enterprises LLC, had been using tissue and testicles from large sheep hunted in Central Asia and the United States to create a hybrid species which he reportedly sold to hunting preserves in Texas, Minnesota, and other states, the Associated Press reported. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris said he struggled to balance Schubarth’s age, lack of criminal record, and the seriousness of the offense. Schubarth’s attorney, Jason Holden, said his client named the hybrid sheep Montana Mountain King and called it an achievement.
Judge Morris ultimately decided to sentence Schubarth to prison, fined him $20,000, and ordered a $4,000 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Schubarth will also self-report to a medical facility for the Bureau of Prisons. The illegal breeding operation involved cloning a giant Marco Polo sheep, a species hunted in Kyrgyzstan, and using its offspring for hybrid breeding. Prosecutors stated that the animals were bred and sold to hunting preserves where hunters paid to shoot captive game.
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In March, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services confiscated the MMK and is holding it until it is transferred to a zoo. Prosecutors stated that Schubarth’s actions endangered other wildlife and violated laws protecting animal species. In addition to his sentencing, he is banned from breeding game stock during his three-year probation and to sell any remaining sheep from his ranch by December 2025.
Schubarth regretted his actions and said, “I will have to work the rest of my life to repair everything I’ve done.”
