Joe Crim and his bear as posted by Secret Pass Outfitters on social media
Pershing County Commission Chairman Joe Crim and professional hunting guide Michael Stremler have resolved felony charges stemming from the unlawful killing of a large black bear in Washoe Valley, pleading guilty to reduced misdemeanor counts and receiving suspended jail sentences, fines, and hunting bans.
The original charges are the result of an incident that occurred way back in November of 2023, in a closed wildlife management area not designated for bear hunting. According to court documents and Nevada Department of Wildlife reports, Crim, 58, and Stremler, 54, who is the owner of Secret Pass Outfitters, pursued and killed an eight-year-old male black bear estimated to weigh in at about 575 pounds. According to reports, the pursuit involved at least one dog, and Stremler was without a master guide license at the time of the killing.
Thankfully for investigating officers, the case came to light after other hunters filed a routine report with NDOW, and a photo of Crim posing with the deceased bear, which was posted on Secret Pass Outfitters' social media, drew attention. Following an investigation, authorities later arrested both men on July 12, 2024, with each posting $3,000 bail.
Originally charged with a Category E felony for killing a big game animal (which carries potential penalties of up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine) along with a few additional unlawful wildlife acts for Stremler, the men faced allegations of knowingly taking the bear outside permitted boundaries or conspiring to do so.
Through plea negotiations, the charges were eventually reduced and Crim pleaded guilty to conspiracy to trespass (a gross misdemeanor) in October 2025, while Stremler entered his plea earlier this month. Both received 364-day jail sentences that were fully suspended.
“We worked on a resolution with the state and resolved the case,” Stremler’s attorney, Brad Johnston said. The state, he said, couldn’t prove the original charges “because they had to prove that Mike Stremler and Joe Crim knowingly harvested the bear in the closed area. The definition is alone, very confusing,” noting issues with the GPS app used, which allegedly failed to mark the closed area clearly.
As such, Joe Crim was ordered to pay a $5,000 civil penalty (plus $28 in court fees) and is now barred from hunting or obtaining hunting tags for one year. His guide Michael Stremler was ordered to pay a $10,000 civil penalty (plus $28 in court fees), was also barred from hunting for one year, and prohibited from guiding for one year.
Meanwhile critics have questioned the outcome and its implications. In addition to his role as Pershing County Commission Chairman, Crim’s continued role as chair of NDOW’s Pershing County Advisory Board is rubbing some the wrong way. Kathryn Bricker of No Bear Hunt Nevada called the penalties lenient and highlighted concerns over Crim's continued role.
"One would question why a person who pleads guilty to a crime related to a killing is allowed to continue serving in an advisory capacity for the state wildlife commission, which continues to allow this unpopular black bear trophy hunt," Bricker said.
Despite the animosity, NDOW maintains that they have no say in the selection of advisory board members, all of which are handled separately as per spokesperson Ashley Zeme’s comments earlier this month.
