Fisherman Is Arrested After Being Caught Cheating In Texas Tournament, Cops Say

A Texas sportfishing tourney ended successful an apprehension aft a metallic detector wand flagged thing different wrong a competitor’s bass.

Curtis Lee Daniels of Willow Park was arrested and charged pinch violating sportfishing tourney rule aft nan food he submitted successful nan Lake Fork Lure Company Tournament complete nan play was recovered afloat of weights.

Tournament organizers astatine Lake Fork alerted authorities Sunday erstwhile a metallic detector made nan incriminating discovery. Texas Game Wardens past performed a necropsy connected nan largemouth bass and discovered 3 weights hidden successful nan fish’s stomach, according to a connection posted to Facebook.

Under nan Texas Parks and Wildlife Department code, it is forbidden to change a fish’s weight “for nan intent of representing that nan food entered successful nan tourney was that magnitude aliases weight erstwhile caught,” Yahoo Sports reported.

While nan discourtesy tin sometimes beryllium charged arsenic a misdemeanor, it becomes a felony if it occurs during a tourney successful which immoderate prize class exceeds $10,000 successful money aliases goods.

After nan food was flagged connected Sunday, Texas Game Wardens trim unfastened nan bass and recovered 3 0.75-ounce sportfishing weights that showed nary signs of erosion — suggesting they had been placed wrong nan food recently, according to authorities. Investigators past recovered weights of nan aforesaid size and style connected Daniels’ boat.

Daniels was arrested and charged pinch a felony. According to an affidavit, nan tourney offered $11,500 successful full prizes, truthful because nan tournament’s prize excavation exceeded $10,000, nan alleged discourtesy qualifies arsenic a third-degree felony nether Texas law.

“On behalf of our tourney unit and anglers, we want to sincerely convey you for your clip and professionalism successful investigating nan caller food manipulation incident this past play during nan Lake Fork Lures Co. Tournament Presented by Sealy Outdoors,” organizers said successful a connection pursuing Daniels’ arrest.

“Maintaining fairness and integrity successful competitory sportfishing is incredibly important to us, and we greatly admit nan diligence and attraction you gave to this matter. Your efforts thief protect nan estimation of nan athletics and guarantee that honorable anglers tin compete connected a level playing field.”

Before he was arrested, Daniels had won 2 hourly prizes totaling $2,500 astatine nan two-day arena operated by Sealy Outdoors.

But nan victor of nan tournament's expansive prize ended up being William McDaniel, who presented a bass weighing 10.22 pounds, Fox4News reported.

Daniels was booked into nan Wood County Jail connected a $20,000 bond.

If convicted, Daniels could look 2 to 10 years successful situation and a good of up to $10,000, arsenic good arsenic a imaginable licence revocation and civilian restitution, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.