HUDSON’S HOPE, B.C. — A Hudson’s Hope man has been charged $7,500 for caging a black bear cub in 2020.
Prolific offender Justin Thibault was found guilty of unlawful possession of live wildlife on Friday, March 3rd, and has to pay $7,400 in restitution as well as an additional $100 in fines, according to court records.
Charges were dropped for Tessa Broad, who was also arrested in this incident.
Last year, Thibault was fined $5,000 and given a five-year hunting ban for being caught hunting wildlife with a light in 2017. Thibault was also in court in 2020 for allegedly harassing an elk on the Peace River in Hudson’s Hope in 2019.
Police found the caged cub on June 9th, 2020, when they went to arrest Thibault at a residence on Ferrell Creek Road for dangerous driving and theft. Officers found several stolen items linked to thefts in the area, along with the black bear.
The Smithers-based Northern Lights Wildlife Society received the black bear from conservation officers and named the cub “The Rock” because of how big he was compared to other cubs. He was later released back into the wild in June 2021, according to the society.
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