10:10 a.m. - Two Williams County men are facing more than 50 charges of game violations in Williams and McKenzie counties in northwestern North Dakota.

William T. Turcotte, of Trenton, faces 15 counts in Williams County and 15 other charges in McKenzie County, court documents show.

Cody B. Kreil, of Williston, faces 19 counts in Williams County and 10 counts in McKenzie County, court records show.

"We were having a number of illegal deer kills in the Yellowstone River area. We got a break and one thing led to another," Bob Timian, chief game warden of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said Thursday.

The investigation started in July, said Daryl Kleyer, NDGFD game warden supervisor in Williston, after a game warden received a tip from a landowner. "The cooperation of landowners and other sportsmen helped," he added.

One other individual, Gary Cayco, of Williston, faces two charges in the case, one count of shining of big game and one count of criminal conspiracy in the case, court records show. Both are Class A misdemeanors.

Turcotte faces six counts of shining, or using an artificial light, one count of unlawfully using artificial lights in taking of big game, one count of illegal killing of big game, one count of wanton waste, two counts of conspiracy to kill big game out of season, one count of killing big game out of season, one count of unlawful possession of a big game animal and two counts of aiding in taking of big game in Williams County. All are Class A or Class B misdemeanors.

Turcotte faces 15 other counts in McKenzie County: four counts of conspiracy to kill big game without a license, four counts of wanton waste, four counts of conspiracy to kill big game out of season, two counts of using an illegal weapon and one count of shining.

Kreil faces nine counts of illegal possession of big game animals, two counts of illegal killing of big game, one count of exceeding the bag limit, one count of unlawfully using artificial lights, one count of hunting big game during a closed season and one count of using certain animals and artificial light in the taking of big game in Williams County. All are Class A misdemeanors.

He also faces one theft of property Class C felony and three theft of property Class B misdemeanors in Williams County.

In McKenzie County, Kreil faces 10 more counts: five counts of illegally killing a big game animal, four counts of wanton waste and one count of using artificial lights.

"The local wardens did a good job of investigating it and running it to ground," Timian said.

(Reach outdoor writer Richard Hinton at 701-250-8256 or richard.hinton@bismarcktribune.com.)