Roland Maw, Gov. Bill Walker's controversial appointee to the Alaska Board of Fisheries, pleaded no contest last week to illegally obtaining resident hunting and fishing licenses in Montana.
As first reported by the Peninsula Clarion, Maw pleaded no contest to seven counts of license violations that he faced in Montana. According to the court order filed May 14 by Beaverhead County, Montana, Justice of the Peace Candy Hoerning, Maw purchased Montana resident licenses every year from 2008 to 2014. He claimed Alaska residency during those same years.
Maw was fined $7,245. The court also barred him from hunting, fishing and trapping for 18 months in Montana, Alaska and all other states that have joined the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Maw is a Cook Inlet commercial fisherman and the former executive director of United Cook Inlet Drift Association, a commercial fishing industry group. Gov. Bill Walker appointed him to the Board of Fisheries in January. His nomination stirred a controversy and drew opposition from the Alaska Legislature.
Maw withdrew his name from consideration on Feb. 20. A few days later, Montana law enforcement officials said that the state had opened a criminal investigation into Maw's possession of Montana resident hunting and fishing licenses. In late March, he was charged with seven misdemeanor counts.
Maw declined to comment when reached via phone on Monday. Joe Fairbank, listed in the court order as Maw's attorney in Dillon, Montana, the Beaverhead County seat, did not return a call for comment.