Steelheader News, BC – 34 year old Tron Son Ho from Abbotsford, BC was convicted on June 7, 2002 of unlawful possession of sturgeon. He was fined $5000.00.
  Ho plead not guilty to the charge. Abbotsford Provincial Court Judge Maltby heard the case.
  On June 18, 2000 Tron Son Ho was driving a Toyota Tercel southbound on Lafeuve Road in Abbotsford. Abbotsford Police officer Doug Sage noticed that a child was standing in the back seat of  Ho’s vehicle – not wearing a seat belt.
  When Sage stopped the vehicle and did a subsequent search he found three sturgeon in the trunk – the largest - 5.5 feet long; the second - 4 feet long; the third - 3.5 feet long.
  Sage notified dispatch and Chilliwack Conservation Officer Don Stahl attended the scene. Stahl confiscated the sturgeon and arrested the driver. Both the 5 ft. and 4 ft. sturgeon were DOA - the 3.5 ft sturgeon lived but died before it could be returned to the river.
  Judge Malty fined Ho $5,000.00 for the offense. Ho had one prior September 4, 1987 for angling with more than one fishing line in the Fraser river near Mission, BC.
  Judge Malty quoted Mr. Justice McLella (AB Court of Appeal) in Regina vs. Mota 1992 to the accused during sentencing: "To survive in any abundance Canada’s Wildlife must be accorded the priority of a treasured national heritage, which it is. . . It must be protected and within the resources of the law defended."
  Crown prosecutor Jim MacAule prosecuted the case. Ho received the highest fine for a sturgeon offense in BC. Credit: to Don Stahl and Chilliwack Conservation Officers.

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