LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Tuesday five Bay Area men were convicted and sentenced for illegally hunting in the State Game Refuge in the Mendocino National Forest.

Juan Estrada Gomez, 30, of Redwood City; Eduardo Yepis Casillas, 34, of San Mateo; Jose Manuel Hernandez, 21, of Redwood City; Jose Hernandez Bustos, 55, of Redwood City; and Cesar Vidal Martinez, 38, of Hayward were convicted of poaching, according to a report from Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

On Sept. 17, Department of Fish and Game Warden Patrick Freeling was patrolling in the area of the State Game Refuge north of Lake Pillsbury when he noticed two vehicles parked at the boundary of the Refuge near Broadman Ridge, Hinchcliff reported.

The refuge has signs posted at all entrances warning that it is illegal to possess firearms or hunt in the refuge, according to the report.

Upon further investigation Freeling found five individuals walking out of the refuge with hunting rifles, Hinchcliff said. When Freeling contacted them, all five men admitted they were deer hunting.

The case was referred to Hinchcliff for prosecution, and all five men were charged with illegal hunting and possession of firearms in a game refuge, in violation of Fish and Game Code section 10500.

Hinchcliff said that on Tuesday all five men pleaded no contest to possession of firearms in the refuge.

Judge Andrew Blum sentenced each of the men to three years' probation, revoked their hunting privileges for three years and ordered each to pay a fine of $1,915, Hinchcliff said.

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