A Ketchikan man pleaded guilty in August to two charges related to illegal fishing and theft of Dungeness crab pots, according to the Alaska State Troopers.
49-year-old David Vest was arrested and his commercial fishing boat, the 32-foot Silver Surfer, was seized after an Alaska Wildlife Trooper stakeout last year. It was near Stone Island, between Ketchikan and Wrangell. Troopers say Vest and his crewman pulled another commercial fisherman’s Dungeness crab gear on board the Silver Surfer. And then Vest cut the other fisherman’s buoy line and attached his own line to the stolen pot.
Vest pleaded guilty to felony second degree theft and misdemeanor interference with commercial fishing gear. He faces two and a half years of jail time, with one and a half years suspended. So, he has one year to serve. He’s also required to give up the Silver Surfer and everything on board, and pay $1500 to the commercial fisherman who had their gear stolen.
Vest is also barred from participating in any Dungeness crab fishery during his three-year probation period, which begins after his jail sentence. Vest’s next court appearance is Oct. 22 at the Ketchikan Courthouse.
Vest’s attorney, Alissa Baier, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
