07-02-2025
Ontario fines Falls man for illegal resident licenses, permits
MNR Staff Report
An International Falls man has been fined $2,000 for possessing or using a number of Ontario resident licences and permits.
Joseph Angelo Butera pleaded guilty to one amended charge that combined all or portions of 12 charges against him addressing the primary issue of his residency status.
In addition to the fine, he is also prohibited from hunting in Ontario for two years.
The court heard that in 2001, Butera obtained a Canadian Permanent Resident Card from Canada Border Services Agency when he married a Canadian resident. He lived in Fort Frances until 2005, when he moved to Minnesota. After moving, Butera occasionally stayed at his property on Big Sawbill Lake, north of Fort Frances, where he owned two other properties, one of which had a permanent housing structure.
Between May 24 and Dec. 13, 2006, Butera possessed or used the Ontario resident licences and permits he unlawfully obtained in Fort Frances by using either a Fort Frances or Big Sawbill Lake address.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers conducted their investigation with the assistance of Canada Border Services Agency; Ontario Provincial Police, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Justice of the Peace Tom Logan heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Fort Frances, on June 12.
For the purposes of obtaining an Ontario resident hunting and fishing licence, a resident is a person whose primary residence is Ontario, and who has resided in Ontario for a period of six consecutive months during the previous 12 months.
In other news, 30 charges were brought forward in a Highway 105 enforcement blitz.
The charges were issued along with 24 warnings during a two-day fisheries enforcement blitz.
On June 11 and 12, 2009, conservation officers from Kenora, Dryden and Red Lake districts, and a northwest region canine officer, checked 419 anglers for compliance with Ontario fisheries regulations. Conservation officers checked anglers on the water and in tourist camps. Ontario Provincial Police officers assisted with a road check on Highway 105.
Charges were issued for having an over limit of walleye and northern pike, and 65 walleye and 11 northern pike were seized.
Warnings were issued for:
* Over limit of walleye.
* Having an oversize walleye.
* Having oversize smallmouth bass.
* Improper packaging of fish.
Officers also laid charges and warnings against individuals under the Liquor Licence Act and Forest Fires Prevention Act regulations for having open liquor and failing to extinguish a fire.
To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
