Department of Wildlife wraps up Butcher Boy investigation; DA to consider charges

Page Last Updated: Thursday July 29, 2010 12:00am PDT

News 4 - Andrew Del Greco

We have new information on the investigation into the rotting big game meat found at Butcher Boy in Sparks last month. Butcher Boy went out of business last year, and the power to the meat refrigerator was ultimately cut off... with the food left inside.

Since the rotting meat was found five weeks ago, there have been two ongoing investigations. First, the health department is looking into who they believe should pay for the cleanup costs. They will turn over their recommendations to the District Attorney's civil office. A lawyer within that office told me the health department is finishing its paperwork, and it should be completed soon.

The second investigation is by the Department of Wildlife. I learned Wednesday the D.O.W. has just wrapped up its investigation, and has handed it over to the D.A.'s criminal lawyers. Deputy District Attorney Chris Hicks told me the D.O.W. is recommending that at least one individual be charged in this case. That's because it is illegal to waste big game meat, for which there are limited tags to hunt and kill. There are at least one of two likely people who could be charged in this case. It could be the trustee who took over the Butcher Boy property, or it could be the former owner.

Both the D.O.W. and the D.A.'s office say they can't tell us any more details at this point. Hicks tells me he just got his hands on the D.O.W.'s findings to review it. He told me he doesn't know how long it will take before he decides if charges are appropriate.

I asked the D.O.W. what the charge could be in a case like this. They say this is a potential misdemeanor, with a fine of more than $500 per count of game waste. We're waiting to learn how many counts could be handed down.

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