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A third person is facing federal prosecution in connection with the illegal transport of mouflon sheep and axis deer from Hawaii island to Maui.
The federal prosecutor filed court papers Monday charging Hawaii island rancher Daniel R. Rocha with providing the 14 mouflon rams that went by helicopter to a ranch on Maui in December 2009.
Helicopter pilot Thomas Leroy Hauptman admitted transporting three deer to Hawaii island and returning to Maui with the 14 rams. He is serving a one-year probation sentence and must provide 500 hours of air time to government agencies, private groups and individuals who are fighting the spread of invasive species on Hawaii island.
Kula ranch owner Jeffrey Scott Grundhauser admitted supplying the axis deer and accepting the mouflon rams. His sentencing is scheduled for next month.
The state wants to prevent the spread of axis deer from established populations on Maui, Lanai and Molokai because of the damage the animal has caused to native ecosystems. It also wants to prevent the spread of mouflon sheep from Hawaii island.