illegally won thousands of dollars at several fishing tournaments

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky...l/16449944.htm

MADISONVILLE, Ky. - A western Kentucky man will spend three years on
probation for his role in a scheme in which he and a partner illegally
won thousands of dollars at several fishing tournaments.

Dwayne E. Nesmith, 43, of Island, recently pleaded guilty to nine
counts of theft by deception over $300 in Marshall County Circuit
Court. He was sentenced to two years in jail on each count, the
sentence to run concurrently, and was given probation, The Messenger of
Madisonville reported.

Nesmith will also pay approximately $7,100 in restitution, which is
half of the winnings he and his fishing partner, Brian K. Thomas, of
Dawson Springs, won in team tournaments.

Nesmith is prohibited from holding a fishing license during his
probation.

Thomas is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 5 to answer identical
charges.

An investigation of the pair began when Kentucky Fish and Wildlife
officers received a tip that Nesmith and Thomas had stashed a basket of
fish in Lake Barkley during the Relay for Life Buddy Tournament in
April.

According to Mark Marraccini, a Fish and Wildlife spokesman, the two
men were observed taking fish out of the basket and putting them in a
livewell in their boat during the tournament.

Investigators found that Nesmith and Thomas won approximately $15,000
in cash and a $30,000 bass boat between 2002 and the Relay for Life
Buddy Tournament. The boat and some fishing equipment were confiscated
by Fish and Wildlife authorities.

Thomas pleaded guilty to the attempted theft charge stemming from the
Relay of Life Buddy Tournament in Trigg County District Court and paid
a $250 fine and $148 in court costs.