LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — State officials came to the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday to honor a longtime Lake County prosecutor for his efforts to protect wildlife.

The California Fish and Game Commission named Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff as its 2020 Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year in June.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the presentation was delayed by nearly another year.

However, Hinchcliff finally received his reward on Tuesday, when Bart Bundesen, assistant chief of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Central Enforcement District, and Eric Sklar, a member of the California Fish and Game Commission, came to the board meeting to honor him.

“It’s very important in law enforcement that our partners in the District Attorney’s Office are there to help us,” said Bundesen.

“Our work is just a portion of what needs to be done and without those district attorneys doing the work that they do we wouldn't be able to complete our job,” he said.

Bundesen said they find that there are certain district attorneys who take it upon themselves to take special interest in fish and game cases. “Sometimes it's out of love for the environment, sometimes it's out of their love for hunting and fishing, it just all depends, but those people are essential to us.”

He said Hinchcliff is one of those people that's been critical to their efforts, “and that's why we're recognizing him as Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year.”

Hinchcliff, who was raised in Lake County, joined the District Attorney’s Office in 1995. He’s been chief deputy district attorney since 2006.

Bundesen said it was Hinchcliff’s personal interest that led him in 2000 to ask the district attorney to let him handle all of the fish and game cases.

It was reported during the presentation that since 2000, Hinchcliff has prosecuted 550 wildlife and environmental cases, with a conviction rate exceeding 95%.

Fish and Wildlife also reported that Hinchcliff has obtained court orders requiring poachers to pay fines totaling $429,742. He also has had 65 firearms ordered forfeited, and had 116 hunting licenses and 57 fishing licenses revoked for convicted poachers for one to three years.

Bundesen said Hinchcliff has improved the procedures for how fines are handed out in such cases, and is working to ensure that those who are convicted pay their fines.

Greg Giusti, chair of the Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee, also was on hand to offer his praise to Hinchcliff, with whom he has worked for at least 20 years. Hinchcliff also is a member of that committee.

During that time, he said he’s come to appreciate Hinchcliff’s honesty, integrity and professionalism, and his dedication to the protection and conservation of Lake County’s fish and wildlife resources.

“Not only does he bring a positive shining light to the county, his energy and his dedication to his job, to public service, is really part of this commendation I believe,” said Giusti.

He told the state officials that they “hit a home run” by selecting Hinchcliff for the award.

“It's a good day to come up here and to acknowledge somebody that I consider a friend, somebody that I work with and somebody who I think is a consummate professional and public servant,” said Giusti, thanking Hinchcliff for the work he does for the community.

Sklar said he and his fellow commissioners and commission staff are deeply grateful for the stellar work that Hinchcliff has done.

He credited Hinchcliff for making pioneering changes in the way wildlife cases are prosecuted, which has ensured that those who break the law are not back hunting the next day.

Sklar said Hinchcliff also has changed the way such crimes are penalized. Instead of just fines, Hinchcliff has gotten jail sentences for individuals convicted of the most serious cases.

One of the most egregious cases Hinchcliff prosecuted involved a large crappie poaching case. Sklar said Hinchcliff’s handling of the case resulted in $70,000 in fines, and $40,000 in confiscated fishing equipment was given to a local high school fishing club.

Sklar called Hinchcliff’s high conviction rate on fish and game cases “an incredible record.”

Hinchcliff thanked Bundesen, Giusti and Sklar for their comments.

“We’ve been very successful in the DA’s Office prosecuting fish and wildlife violations,” he said.

He explained the partnership that made that possible.

Hinchcliff said that in his 27 years in the District Attorney’s Office, Fish and Wildlife has had a history of very good wardens.

“I find every single one of them to be intelligent, friendly, hardworking, dedicated to their jobs and very well trained,” he said.

He added that if Fish and Wildlife hadn’t done such a good job of training and producing great wardens to work on cases, the District Attorney’s Office wouldn’t be as successful as it’s been.

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