Man arrested on suspicion of poaching 15 abalone on Sonoma Coast

"A suspected poacher accused of violating California's eight-year-old ban on abalone harvest along the Sonoma Coast appeared in court in Santa Rosa Friday morning. In a brief appearance before Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Kristine Burk, Andrii Chmukh, 34, asked to be provided with a Ukrainian language interpreter. Judge Burk granted the request, and scheduled Chmukh's next appearance for Jan. 5."

"Chmukh, a resident of Citrus Heights in Sacramento County, was apprehended the night of Nov. 7, after California Fish and Wildlife officers spotted moving lights at Ocean Cove, just south of Salt Point State Park the kind of lights that usually mean someone is doing more than sightseeing, according to a report posted by the state agency on social media. Surveilling from a distance, officers then observed several individuals moving through the cove and placing items into containers."

"Ocean Cove was experiencing a negative tide that evening, meaning the sea level was lower than even a normal low tide, creating tide pools and exposing other features that are usually submerged. As the group made its way back to the access road above the cove, officers positioned themselves out of sight and waited, the post recounted. They apprehended Chmukh, who was carrying a bag containing 15 poached red abalone, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife."

Andrii Chmukh, 34, a Citrus Heights resident, was apprehended the night of Nov. 7 at Ocean Cove, just south of Salt Point State Park, after California Fish and Wildlife officers spotted moving lights. Officers surveilled from a distance and observed several individuals moving through the cove and placing items into containers. A negative tide exposed tide pools and other normally submerged features. Officers positioned themselves out of sight as the group returned and then apprehended Chmukh carrying a bag with 15 poached red abalone. Chmukh was booked on suspicion of taking and possessing abalone with intent to sell. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 5.

Read at www.pressdemocrat.com