Arthur “Jack” Schubarth of Vaughn, Montana, received the prison sentence and a US$20,000 fine for his role in cloning a large Marco Polo sheep using tissue and testicles from animals hunted in Central Asia and the US.
Schubarth was also ordered to pay US$4,000 to the US Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with US District Court Judge Brian Morris highlighting the need to deter others from altering wildlife genetics.
Schubarth’s illegal operation involved creating hybrid sheep at his 215-acre Sun River Enterprises LLC ranch, which specializes in breeding alternative livestock for captive trophy hunting. He used genetic material from illegally imported sheep to clone a large specimen he named “Montana Mountain King” (MMK), selling offspring and semen for huge profits. Prosecutors stated that the total value of the hybrid sheep exceeded US$250,000.
Schubarth’s actions endangered local wildlife, bringing in banned sheep breeds and selling hybrid sheep across several states. The Marco Polo sheep, the world’s largest breed, can weigh up to 300 pounds and have massive horns, making them highly prized in the hunting industry.
In court, Schubarth expressed regret, claiming his obsession with the project clouded his judgment.
“[I] looked for any grey area in the law to make the best sheep I could for this sheep industry,” he wrote in a letter attached to his sentencing memo.
“My family has never been broke, but we are now.”
As part of his sentencing, Schubarth is banned from breeding game stock during his three-year probation, and his remaining hybrid sheep must be slaughtered, with the meat donated to food banks. The case is still under investigation, with Schubarth agreeing to cooperate with authorities.
