Montana FWP / Wheatland County Sheriff’s Office
A Billings man lucked out with a plea deal that will allow him to avoid immediate prison time but will still see him slapped with $12,000 in financial penalties and a 20-year hunting ban after pleading guilty to multiple poaching charges in Wheatland County District Court.
Michael Jason Letasky entered guilty pleas to five misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident during the 2025 archery elk season near the Haymaker Wildlife Management Area. According to officials, the conviction brings an end to an intensive multi-agency investigation that began with a tip from two law-abiding archery hunters.
The investigation kicked off after a pair of archery hunters, who were actively tracking a trophy-class bull elk, witnessed a man step out from a treeline and shoot the very animal they were stalking using a rifle, a big no-no during the archery-only season.
The two legal hunters immediately contacted Montana FWP Game Warden Diego O’Brien, who responded alongside Wheatland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Timothy McKenna and Deputy Shawn Tripp. Guided by the hunters back to the kill site, law enforcement officers preserved the scene and brought in a specialized team of game wardens to secure evidence from the carcass. Investigators later confirmed two bull elk had been illegally killed in the area, including a rag horn bull and the trophy-class bull, which was left to rot.
While leaving the area, Warden O’Brien conducted a traffic stop on Letasky, matching his identity and vehicle to descriptions provided by the witnesses.
A comprehensive investigation led by Warden O’Brien and FW&P Criminal Investigator Nick Taylor built what local authorities described as an "iron-clad case" against Letasky.
Montana FWP / Wheatland County Sheriff’s Office
Facing several charges, Letasky reached a plea agreement with Montana FW&P and Wheatland County Prosecutor Lynn Grant. In exchange for dropping felony charges, Letasky pled guilty to five misdemeanor counts including two counts of unlawful possession of a game animal, one count of waste of a game animal and two counts of hunting or fishing in a closed season
On Tuesday of this week, Letasky was sentenced to a combined 30 months in prison across the five counts but was fortunate to have entire prison sentence suspended on the condition that he abides strictly by the terms of his plea agreement.
In addition to the suspended prison time, Letasky was ordered to pay $12,000 in fines, restitution, and court prosecution costs. His hunting privileges in the state of Montana have also been revoked for 20 years - something that will follow him across just about every other state as well thanks to the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
In a public statement following the sentencing, Wheatland County Sheriff Randy Cameron and Undersheriff Kevin Froese commended the archery hunters for reporting the crime, as well as the joint efforts of state wardens and local deputies.
"This Sheriff’s Office continues to work very closely with our Fish, Game and Forestry Law Enforcement counterparts to continue to preserve and protect our natural resources," Sheriff Cameron stated. "Together we do make a difference."
