Posted on 02/02/2006 7:33:25 AM PST by 11x62
Former NFL star Larry Csonka, the host of a cable television outdoors show, pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegal filming on national forest lands.
As part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Csonka pleaded guilty to knowingly conducting work activity in a national forest without obtaining a special use permit.
Csonka agreed to pay $3,887 in restitution for filming about 10 shows on U.S. Forest Service land, said assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Goeke.
At sentencing April 19, Goeke said, prosecutors will request a sentence of probation for one year and a $5,000 fine.
Csonka could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Csonka is host of "NAPA's North to Alaska," billed as a show on fishing, hunting, history and customs that explores a new area of Alaska each week. The show appears on the Outdoor Life Network.
According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Csonka admitted that his production company, Zonk! Productions, in August 2002 filmed an episode of what was then called "Stihl's North to Alaska" along the Blind River Area on Mitkoff Island in the Tongass National Forest. The episode was broadcast in May 2003.
A crew filmed another episode in September 2005 in the Alaganik Slough at Cordova, part of the Chugach National Forest, and again did not obtain a special use permit for commercial work, prosecutors said.
Csonka agreed that as a condition of probation, he will not film without obtaining all required permits, Goeke said.
According to prosecutors, Zonk! Productions has filmed in Alaska since 1998.
The maximum penalty for the misdemeanor offense is six months in prison, a $10,000 fine and five years probation.
In September, Csonka was one of six people rescued by the Coast Guard during a harrowing night aboard a rolling and pitching 28-foot boat in the Bering Sea.
Csonka, his partner, a film crew and a guide had been hunting for reindeer on remote Umnak Island in the Aleutian Islands while filming an episode for his television show.
Heading to the Aleut village of Nikolski on the southwest side of the island, the vessel encountered 40-knot winds and waves the Coast Guard said were 9 feet high and those on board said reached 20 feet.
Five miles from the village, the skipper sent out a distress call. Villagers used vehicle headlights to try to guide the vessel but high seas pushed the boat away.
A Coast Guard helicopter from Kodiak lifted off the six people on board one by one using a basket. The vessel was abandoned.
Csonka was a much-heralded fullback at Syracuse University and a first-round draft choice by the Miami Dolphins in 1968.
He appeared with the Dolphins in three Super Bowls from 1971 to 1973 and played on the Dolphin team that was 17-0 in 1972.
He retired in January 1980 and was elected to the pro football Hall of Fame in 1987.
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Remember when that Denver Bronco wide receiver (Watson?) got caught in a blizzard on a turkey hunt in Wyoming. They had supposedly killed some game, but ate it all up that evening while they were getting snowed in. Out of food they were frantically calling for help from their huniting cabin. I seem to remember every radio and TV station lining up to see who was gonna save those idiots first.
Sorry Bud, but I have a REAL hard time believing your version of this, although I didn't see that particular segment.
"They had supposedly killed some game, but ate it all up that evening while they were getting snowed in. Out of food they were frantically calling for help from their hunting cabin..."
First off, I doubt they ate a whole wild turkey that day, unless they were really hungry. Apparently you post this nonsense without knowing the basics of harvesting/eating and preserving wild game.
And, BTW, what's this got to do with these regulations on public land?
Oh, and I remember seeing a TV broadcast about an AR activist who tried to be a survivor at Ted Nugent's home. Just cause you read it, saw it broadcast, doesn't make it reality, Bud.
Geeze, I'm glad I have something better to do than watch TV and evolve my life around the BS!!!!!
"But then, some sports icons feel that they can get away with a lot of things we lesser mortals can't."
Yeah. But it's usually beating the chit out of their wives or girlfriends, versus FILMING a sports show in the freaking wilderness. *Rolleyes*
If "calling" means cell phones, hey're nice, I've heard some sad stories about people who've depended on them for their safety. More accurately, the volunteers on the other end who respond to the call.
Love your tagline! ;)
If you'd like to be on or off this Upper Midwest outdoors list, please FRmail me.
Andy Jackson tried to turn the federal lands in the west over to the states. His proposal went nowhere, and that is the best shot the idea ever had.
"...who tried to be a survivor at Ted Nugent's home."
That depends upon whether you're the dinner or the invited guest for dinner, LOL!
LMAO,
You know, I don't remember any fishing/hunting show hosts being arrested lately (or ever) for beating their wives: Knocking down a 10-pointer on film maybe, or not harvesting anything after great film of the chase.
But the guys who become instant millionaires (sp) for chasing/running a little ball down a field do have their problems sometimes (more likely than not).
WTF? It's the people's land!
I've been around! School has been keeping me fairly busy. I'm finishing up a big assignment now, Periodically I have to take some "work breaks" from my FReeping :-)
Both your taglines are pretty good!
Heck if I'd eat a raw turkey. I'd find me some wood twigs and burn that bird.
Is that part of the actual reporting of that event?
No wonder some people are as dumb as a coal bucket when it comes to life outside their apartment door; or independentally ignorant of what life/nature is like in the REAL world.
We've had our STAR college footballer at the UW Madison kicked off the team this week (finally!) for stalking and beating his girlfriend, and for street fighting earlier in the year.
How STUPID can you be? Well, pretty stupid, obviously. I dunno. Do we really need to recruit Neanderthals into the system? (No offense to Neanderthals that may be lurking on Free Republic; Oh, Come on! We've all met them, LOL!)
Where have I been? For the past several hours I have been working on my taxes. Grrrrr.
Well,
I once 'et a wild quail (just ripped his head off in the field) to satisfy my lust for blood -- and blood sports :)
Best way of preparing them!
Dang, them feathers can really interfere with good dental hygiene.
I'd suggest plucking those feathers off, and using the end of one for a toothpick.
Beats a good old broomstraw.
Naw, I aint a redneck.
Why would a hunting TV show host eat a cooked (YUM) wild turkey when he/she could eat a raw one, while begging for help.
YEA, and I'm Mona Lisa :)
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