CROSBY – A man the state maintains acted illegally as a hunting guide for several years is scheduled to go on trial Dec. 11 in Divide County.

Randal Scott Layman, Jr., Fayetteville, Tennessee is charged with four class C felony counts of exploitation of wildlife. Three similar charges against Layman were dismissed in November 2018. Layman’s trial on the charges was set following a status conference hearing in front of Judge Robin Schmidt here last Friday.

The complaint against Layman alleges he advertised and acted as a hunting guide for multiple people in 2016 and 2017 without having a guide’s license in North Dakota. Also, alleges the complaint, Layman knowingly killed a mule deer with a “white-tailed deer only” license and did so with a firearm while having only an archery license. In addition, Layman was cited for exceeding the possession limit of ducks by more than 20 and the daily limit of sandhill cranes.

The violations allegedly committed by Layman would normally be charged as misdemeanors. However, the total number of charges elevates the penalty to the level of felonies. State law reads that a person who commits five or more class A misdemeanor offenses within a two-year period can be charged with a class C felony.

Class C felonies carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. According to an affidavit of probable cause filed with the court, a client of Layman’s told an investigating officer that “Mr. Layman charges people $1,000 to guide them on hunts.” Layman was advertising his guiding services through Elk River Outfitters on Facebook and Instagram.