WILMINGTON Prosecution of a bear poaching case by officers of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has led to a federal firearms conviction.

Michael Augustus Comstock, 50, of Columbia, N.C., has been sentenced in U.S. District Court to 6½ years in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon, plus three years supervised probation upon his release.

Comstock pleaded guilty Oct. 6 in state court to hunting during a closed season, which resulted in a $2,000 fine, replacement costs of $2,232 and suspension of his hunting license for two years, effective beginning when he is released from federal penitentiary. He also was required to pay court costs of $121.

Sgt. Mark Cagle led the Tyrrell County investigation, which began in April 2007. A stakeout led to apprehension of a suspect and collection of evidence, including a recently killed bear, a stolen 12-guage shotgun that had been recently fired, a 55-gallon barrel of peanut butter, a 55-gallon barrel of bubblegum and 55-gallon barrel of peppermint candy, as well as observation of hunting dogs released at the bait site where the bear was killed that same morning.

Forensic testing by the State Bureau of Investigation revealed the slug that killed the bear matched the stolen shotgun.

In addition to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Wildlife officers involved, along with Sgt. Cagle, were Sgt. Mark Rich, Robert Wayne, George Owens, Sgt. Ed Alston, Tim Wadsworth, Jim Schreckengost, Brian White and Nathan Green.

A federal grand jury returned a criminal indictment on Nov. 17, 2007 charging a felon with possession of a firearm. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Bragdon served as prosecutor for the government. On June 16, 2008 after a four-day trial before a federal jury, Comstock was found guilty.

Catches Of The Week

A 51-inch red drum by Richard Wecsler and a 50-incher at Ocracoke Inlet by Gator Lewerthy. Both were fishing with guide Norman Miller on The Rascal.

A 44-inch red drum in the Ocracoke Island surf by Rick Long of Stanfield.

A 5½-pound speckled trout in the Ocracoke Island surf by Bert Black.