GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—A Grand Junction man has been sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison for illegally killing a six-point trophy elk as a friend used vehicle headlights to spot the animal.
Twenty-eight-year-old Erik Ambriz learned his sentence Tuesday from Mesa County District Court Judge Brian Flynn, who called Ambriz a criminal that didn’t respect the safety of humans.
Ambriz was sentenced on felony charges of possessing a weapon as a previous weapon offender and illegal sale of wildlife, and for misdemeanor use of artificial light while hunting.
Ambriz told an undercover Division of Wildlife officer he killed an elk the night of Oct. 14 near Mack. He’d purchased a big-game license for bull elk Oct. 13, but it wasn’t valid until Oct. 18.
He apologized in court for his actions.
