Veteran pilot pleads guilty to airlifting deer, sheep

The aviator transported the animals illegally between Maui and Hawaii island

By Dan Nakaso

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 21, 2012

~~<p>A Vietnam War helicopter pilot pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to illegally flying axis deer from Maui to Hawaii island in one of his helicopters, and flying mouflon cross-bred sheep from Hawaii island to Maui in a wildlife hunting case expected to expand.</p>
<p>U.S. District Judge Kevin Chang deferred sentencing for Thomas Leroy Hauptman, 63, until Sept. 18, when Chang will consider Hauptman's motion to provide 500 hours of helicopter service to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii as part of his punishment for the misdemeanor charges.</p>
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A Vietnam War helicopter pilot pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to illegally flying axis deer from Maui to Hawaii island in one of his helicopters, and flying mouflon cross-bred sheep from Hawaii island to Maui in a wildlife hunting case expected to expand.

U.S. District Judge Kevin Chang deferred sentencing for Thomas Leroy Hauptman, 63, until Sept. 18, when Chang will consider Hauptman's motion to provide 500 hours of helicopter service to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii as part of his punishment for the misdemeanor charges. Login for more...