A 3 years license suspension was reasonable, but IMO I think they should have to pay back every single bit of winnings they took while cheating. They stole from their fellow, well ex-fellow fisher fiends. And oh boy these men's wives, how ashamed they must be. Their families are actually who's taking the worst of this. My dad did something really bad, and my mom nearly lost everything. If it wasn't for my grandpa selling off his land to help my mom she would have lost her house and everything else. The worst part was going over to my mom's and watching her sell off everything she owned. I sat there looking at the things of my childhood being sold for next to nothing to pay for a crime she did not commit, and I couldn't do a thing about it.
WOW.Sorry to hear about that. I definitely think the suspension is appropriate.A fine at least as well.Jail? I don't know if that's necessary but.I wasn't effected by it so.Easy for me to say. 🙃
I don't think they should have been allowed to plea at all, they'd best be thanking Jesus they got off with what they got.There are to many honest fishermen, (and women) out there that play by the rules to suffer from this kind of crap - it's just outright theft in my book and deserving of the max!!!
How is this a "sad" situation? It's just a terrible one. These guys knew what they were doing, and they got a slap on the wrist for it. Anything lives ruined, was of their own choices and doing.
As bad as cheating was, the fact all of the other true sportsman who have been cheated, obviously for years, stayed level headed that day and days since shows how great our fishing community is.
@fishy dubs fishing Because, the weight of their fish is proportionate with the size of their fish. When you do dozens of weigh ins, it's easy to tell
They were lucky they were able to walk away unharmed from this event. This is serious and peoples livelihood is at stake and to find out that you lost due to some jackasses stuffing fish with sinkers? They thought they were smart and it’s never been done before? Total neophytes.
I liked that the judge tossed out the prosecution's recommendation of no jail time and 6mos probation. The judge gave them a 10 days in jail and 2yrs, I believe, probation. Watching all these dirtbags in liberal cities let walk for violent crimes it was refreshing to see them get anything.
You would have had to have held my dad back if he was there. That cheater took a boat and money away from an honest fisherman and thats so messed up. They took his boat and they should drop it off to the rightful person.
@Dieter Melhorn Fishing - Please review the letter that was sent to the judge asking for more than what the DA offered! We sent a letter to Judge Steven Gall asking for more. I ask him in the letter if he was a fisherman. He answered today in court, responding that he grew up fishing! It was three times more time probation than what the da offered! Also, jail time which was not included in the original plea!! We did good!
@@DieterMelhorn thank you! He answered the question I asked in court...as to if he fished. He said he grew up with a pawn just down the road and recently took his grandkids fishing. The look on Cominsky's face when he found out he wasn't leaving was priceless. He had the Lando Calrissian "we had a deal" look minus the class.
@@cerebraltackle Did you want a star sticker from the judge too?? 😂. Their “fishing” career was ruined the day they got caught, they lost all credibility, honor, dignity, and a 130k boat. I can’t believe your excited they got 10 days in jail. It’s a FISHING tournament.
@@blacktranch "your excited"...really? I guess you didn't get a gold star from your English teacher, now did you? Go find your father...I bet he's still at the 7-11 looking for cigarettes. Troll.
Giving up the boat is a good part of their punishment. But which one owned the boat, or was it owned jointly? Hit'em in the wallet. Yes, the embarrassment they will face in public will sting for a long time too.
Is there any restitution of prize money won over the prior couple of years? What's to keep them from going to a nearby state and getting a fishing license? I'm having trouble believing this will affect them for a significant amount of time.
Their faces are well known in the fishing "community" across all of America. They'll not be able to hide. I'm not sure they are willing to face the sh--storm if they were to be caught again.
They can't prove that they cheated in Other Tournaments You can't charge anybody if you don't have evidence and I'm sure they'll be able to get fishing license in other states but in all Reality what Would the benefit of them going to a creak and fish with no money involved? Do it for fun like most people? Also I'm sure every Tournament director in the country is gonna know these guys so I Doubt they'll be able to have fishing as a financial stream anymore
The crime of fraud was (it seems) is what they plead to and were punished for. To the fishing community, the sin was their cheating. I like that the judge fishes. That got them more punishment than a non fisherman might have hit them with.
I'm not even a competitive fisherman and this p'd me off. When I was a kid I never EVEN thought competitive fishing would be a thing. Making a living fishing.🤭
I think that the sentence should have been longer as a deterrent to others who think about doing this would think twice about it. At least they kept the boat and have to pay.
This is got to be embarrassing for their families. This is more embarrassing than jumping the lawn mower over the above ground swimming pool in the backyard.
Up here in Canada you get caught doing this your license for fishing and hunting is gone plus you loose everything you used to catch the fish including boat truck trailer and up to 50 K fine per fish
I'm always floored by the nature of people who cheat others for their own personal gain. No conscience at all. A royal beat down by the other teams would have been a more suitable punishment. As a note, I worked as a felony probation officer for sixteen years and I can tell you it's an absolute joke!
10 days? How much have they made off cheating? They had to give up a boat, so what? What about all the cash prizes they have won up to being caught. From what I understand its 9 wins, 11 top finishes. Thats got to be more than the $2500 they were fined, LESS if they donate to a fish related charity. Id say it was worth the 10 days.
Now that I've got my boat set up for catfishing, I was think about entering the local, fun tournaments. Not now. This incident shows that people take this stuff WAY too seriously for me.
Tournaments need to be banned they kill countless numbers of fish for no reason if you go fishing specially in salt water after a tournament you will not catch nothing
They did not have to give up the boat they did that on their own from their last tournament which to me seems like they may have cheated in that tournament also.
The thing that gets me is how blatant they were about it. I could see if it was an ounce or two or maybe even a few small weights. But they were using giant @$$ egg weights. I mean come on, how did they expect to get away with that. Did they really think no one would notice these fish weighing way more than they should have.
I definitely agree with everything besides the 10 days in jail. In the bigger picture, that’s 10 days (for each of them) of resources wasted to keep them in jail. Just my humble opinion
They'll also surely be banned from any kind of fishing tournaments for life I assume. The sheer level of embarrassment was likely taken into consideration here as the sentences seem light for the crimes. They failed a polygraph test as far back as 2021 - I think they should have had to pay restitutions equal to all of their winnings at least back until that time. A $130,000 boat seizure and $2,500 fine seem bad, but it's far less than they likely stole by cheating in all of those tournaments over the years. They should have also been made to pay restitutions to all of their sponsors.
From the information that I have they won the boat the year before and people were crying foul at that time that they were cheating but they left before they could check the fish.
This sucks , all this shows the people that wanna chest is the punishment ain’t shit … As a fisherman I would have love to these these guys get banned from all fishing licenses for life . Never allowed to compete again , after 3 years they both be somewhere fishing in tourneys watch
On top of this , they should have been given a first class azz whooping when caught. And a big tattoo on their forehead so I can recognize their face on the water.
Hey Dieter , It's a shame that people go to the extent of Cheating to try and win a fishing contest or just plain cheating to get ahead in anything ! Oh Yes , They will be recognized as Cheaters And that will be the biggest punishment of all ! Take Care and Be Safe !
lifetime loss of right to participate in any fishing tournament for life and repay all winnings from the past. Next case. Surprised this stuff isnt checked more often and more cheating found
I do love fishing but still can't wrap my head around walking into the woods to kill anything that moves . I'm sorry But I just don't feel that need to get my gun off like that ...
I could sleep off a ten day sentence come on. I was on probation for 3 years 5 thousand dollar fine and three months in jail i served 30 days . All for taking a piss next to the river. Where i thought no one was around. But a lady seen me from behind called the law .. totally different situation I know. There lives in the fishing world of over. But they still stole money
As much they earned already by cheating, they already got it made. They shoukd've been punished worse but law only allows so much for this kind of crime.
ATTEMPTING to cheat ? If thats not cheating i dont know what is. What about all the other tournaments they cheates in ? I heard they have won more tournaments in the past. You know they did this before but were never caught until now The punishment didnt fit the crime so these 2 cheaters may try it again.
This is ridiculous everybody in the world cheats and nothing is ever done look at NASCAR racing how much cheating goes on nobody's ever arrested and do you think this is going to stop anybody from cheating I doubt it
Yea they cheated but so many people have done such worse things than this and they are not even in as much trouble sad day for them there life’s are ruined for fish cheating
They prosecute this yet politicians go unchecked 🤦♂️
Preach ! A little louder for the folks in the back row .
What pedos??
Epstein who?? Such a crooked country we live in
Fraud in a walleye tournament is as you know way worse than treason against our country !
Your obviously not a competitive fisherman. Your opinion has no value here
They should also never be allowed to fish in any fishing tournament again
Seems like a slap on the wrist to me
A 3 years license suspension was reasonable, but IMO I think they should have to pay back every single bit of winnings they took while cheating. They stole from their fellow, well ex-fellow fisher fiends. And oh boy these men's wives, how ashamed they must be. Their families are actually who's taking the worst of this. My dad did something really bad, and my mom nearly lost everything. If it wasn't for my grandpa selling off his land to help my mom she would have lost her house and everything else. The worst part was going over to my mom's and watching her sell off everything she owned. I sat there looking at the things of my childhood being sold for next to nothing to pay for a crime she did not commit, and I couldn't do a thing about it.
WOW.Sorry to hear about that.
I definitely think the suspension is appropriate.A fine at least as well.Jail? I don't know if that's necessary but.I wasn't effected by it so.Easy for me to say. 🙃
@@jeffhodge7272it’s 10 days
suspend these two men away from fishing
I don't think they should have been allowed to plea at all, they'd best be thanking Jesus they got off with what they got.There are to many honest fishermen, (and women) out there that play by the rules to suffer from this kind of crap - it's just outright theft in my book and deserving of the max!!!
They committed several grand larceny.
Thank you for the best information out there about the fishing community
What a sad situation. I know many wanted a harsher penalty; however, this has altered and potentially already ruined their lives.
They ruined their own lives. They knew what they were doing when they added the weights.
How is this a "sad" situation? It's just a terrible one. These guys knew what they were doing, and they got a slap on the wrist for it. Anything lives ruined, was of their own choices and doing.
This is bull how can you arrest somebody or put them in jail for cheating everybody cheats
Man that's 🤬up!! 🤨
Lol they got wrecked 😂
Let the other cheaters know this is what can happen.
Don’t feel Bad at all. Guys almost walked away with 29K. Remember that
As bad as cheating was, the fact all of the other true sportsman who have been cheated, obviously for years, stayed level headed that day and days since shows how great our fishing community is.
How do you know the other sportsman aren’t cheating
They should have delivered them a proper beating. I would have if I would have been 1 of their competitors
@fishy dubs fishing Because, the weight of their fish is proportionate with the size of their fish. When you do dozens of weigh ins, it's easy to tell
They were lucky they were able to walk away unharmed from this event. This is serious and peoples livelihood is at stake and to find out that you lost due to some jackasses stuffing fish with sinkers? They thought they were smart and it’s never been done before? Total neophytes.
How do you know everyone is cheating? Do you use this excuse in your relationships too!
such a light sentence but at least no tournament director will ever accept them to participate in another tournament.
I liked that the judge tossed out the prosecution's recommendation of no jail time and 6mos probation. The judge gave them a 10 days in jail and 2yrs, I believe, probation. Watching all these dirtbags in liberal cities let walk for violent crimes it was refreshing to see them get anything.
Who were their SPONSORS?
Good follow up Mr Dieter
You would have had to have held my dad back if he was there. That cheater took a boat and money away from an honest fisherman and thats so messed up. They took his boat and they should drop it off to the rightful person.
Thanks for the update Dieter ! 👍👍
Thanks for watching!
@Dieter Melhorn Fishing - Please review the letter that was sent to the judge asking for more than what the DA offered! We sent a letter to Judge Steven Gall asking for more. I ask him in the letter if he was a fisherman. He answered today in court, responding that he grew up fishing! It was three times more time probation than what the da offered! Also, jail time which was not included in the original plea!! We did good!
Thanks for making that effort!!!
@@DieterMelhorn thank you! He answered the question I asked in court...as to if he fished. He said he grew up with a pawn just down the road and recently took his grandkids fishing.
The look on Cominsky's face when he found out he wasn't leaving was priceless. He had the Lando Calrissian "we had a deal" look minus the class.
@@cerebraltackle Did you want a star sticker from the judge too?? 😂. Their “fishing” career was ruined the day they got caught, they lost all credibility, honor, dignity, and a 130k boat. I can’t believe your excited they got 10 days in jail. It’s a FISHING tournament.
@@blacktranch "your excited"...really? I guess you didn't get a gold star from your English teacher, now did you? Go find your father...I bet he's still at the 7-11 looking for cigarettes. Troll.
Giving up the boat is a good part of their punishment. But which one owned the boat, or was it owned jointly? Hit'em in the wallet. Yes, the embarrassment they will face in public will sting for a long time too.
The boat was won in a previous tournament !
Is there any restitution of prize money won over the prior couple of years? What's to keep them from going to a nearby state and getting a fishing license? I'm having trouble believing this will affect them for a significant amount of time.
Their faces are well known in the fishing "community" across all of America. They'll not be able to hide. I'm not sure they are willing to face the sh--storm if they were to be caught again.
They can't prove that they cheated in Other Tournaments You can't charge anybody if you don't have evidence and I'm sure they'll be able to get fishing license in other states but in all Reality what Would the benefit of them going to a creak and fish with no money involved? Do it for fun like most people? Also I'm sure every Tournament director in the country is gonna know these guys so I Doubt they'll be able to have fishing as a financial stream anymore
The crime of fraud was (it seems) is what they plead to and were punished for.
To the fishing community, the sin was their cheating.
I like that the judge fishes. That got them more punishment than a non fisherman might have hit them with.
Freshwater fishermen take their tournaments way too seriously 😂
It’s about honesty and morality.
Obviously you have none.
@@FondelMikeRotch Guess I dont 🤷♀
Started watching river certfied years ago and a few others and I always come back to dieter
Lots of great content creators out there in the fishing world, so I appreciate you watching my show
Thank you for the update
Not enough jail time but at least the felony convictions will cost them in life
Sentences expunged upon completion of sentence. Basically it's a diversion.
People cheat every day of the year there's a cheater boring every day of the year does anybody really think this is going to can you curtail cheating
I hope more fishing tournaments check out fish for weights,when it comes to money they do everything possible to get it.
I'm not even a competitive fisherman and this p'd me off.
When I was a kid I never EVEN thought competitive fishing would be a thing.
Making a living fishing.🤭
The 3 year suspension is because, back in the day fishing and hunting were major ways if feeding people's families...
They should never be allowed to fish anywhere or ever again, lifetime banishment from fishing
Idk how i started getting recommended these videos i dont fish, ive never searched for fishing tournaments. But im sucked in now lol
I think that the sentence should have been longer as a deterrent to others who think about doing this would think twice about it. At least they kept the boat and have to pay.
They stole money and that has consequences, its call jail time!
Was any charges that stuck felonies?
thankfully they got a judge who cares about things like this and sentenced accordingly
Can u share some info on how to fish around turtles? Everywhere I seem to fish in ne Okla.there is a lot of turtles
Run a trout line and thin them out... Find someone who likes to eat turtle...
This is got to be embarrassing for their families. This is more embarrassing than jumping the lawn mower over the above ground swimming pool in the backyard.
If a league ever lets these guys compete again, they are gonna get whacked.
Up here in Canada you get caught doing this your license for fishing and hunting is gone plus you loose everything you used to catch the fish including boat truck trailer and up to 50 K fine per fish
Second camera angle...nice touch sir
I don't believe they even make a Bass boat that comes close to $100,000
You can find some that cheap…..may not have all the bells and whistles….
So really a slap on the wrist because the boat was probably from a sponsor lol but great to see all the other fisherman keep pretty calm
I mean, they can go to any other state and buy a license to fish so it’s really useless.
I love your videos man keep it up you know what you're doing
I'm always floored by the nature of people who cheat others for their own personal gain. No conscience at all. A royal beat down by the other teams would have been a more suitable punishment. As a note, I worked as a felony probation officer for sixteen years and I can tell you it's an absolute joke!
10 days? How much have they made off cheating? They had to give up a boat, so what? What about all the cash prizes they have won up to being caught. From what I understand its 9 wins, 11 top finishes. Thats got to be more than the $2500 they were fined, LESS if they donate to a fish related charity. Id say it was worth the 10 days.
Now that I've got my boat set up for catfishing, I was think about entering the local, fun tournaments. Not now. This incident shows that people take this stuff WAY too seriously for me.
Tournaments need to be banned they kill countless numbers of fish for no reason if you go fishing specially in salt water after a tournament you will not catch nothing
So... Crime does pay? See y'all at the next tournament. I need to go get some weights first.
The judge can also take your gun license for up to 10 years
What about all the prize money from past tournaments. I hope there are endless civil cases against them
My God, make them pay back what they stole and then ban them from fishing for life.
They should have injected clear kids slime.
They did not have to give up the boat they did that on their own from their last tournament which to me seems like they may have cheated in that tournament also.
No, it was part of the plea agreement….
What about all the money they Stole from tournaments.???
I hope they don't find out I cheated on a math exam in 4th grade some 40 years ago. Is that a life sentence?
Cheating comes in many forms.
Using A Rigs when your lake rules says only one line with one lure are allowed.
The thing that gets me is how blatant they were about it. I could see if it was an ounce or two or maybe even a few small weights. But they were using giant @$$ egg weights. I mean come on, how did they expect to get away with that. Did they really think no one would notice these fish weighing way more than they should have.
It’s almost as if they wanted to get caught….
@@DieterMelhorn Now that would be one crazy plot twist. But seeing how this is 2023, I guess everything is on the table.
I definitely agree with everything besides the 10 days in jail. In the bigger picture, that’s 10 days (for each of them) of resources wasted to keep them in jail. Just my humble opinion
They should have been given community service, a year of cleaning garbage from the shores of lakes and streams.
They'll also surely be banned from any kind of fishing tournaments for life I assume. The sheer level of embarrassment was likely taken into consideration here as the sentences seem light for the crimes. They failed a polygraph test as far back as 2021 - I think they should have had to pay restitutions equal to all of their winnings at least back until that time. A $130,000 boat seizure and $2,500 fine seem bad, but it's far less than they likely stole by cheating in all of those tournaments over the years. They should have also been made to pay restitutions to all of their sponsors.
How come tournament cheaters face people and walk up on a stage and collection money for faking a fishing tournament.And it didn't bother them 😮
From the information that I have they won the boat the year before and people were crying foul at that time that they were cheating but they left before they could check the fish.
I need to find that neon sign. 👀
I gotta say, I’m not shocked about the sentencing. Seems pretty on the spot
Looks like they are going to arrest every single nascar team for cheating..
The guy that owned the boat is the one paying hugely.
Have fun and do what you can with fishing
The loss of the boat they won by cheating IS NOT A punishment. BTW one report I saw said they won 2 boats.
Pay a fine or donate the same amount to charity! Well that's a no brainer! Donations are tax deductible! Fine's are not!
Unfair punishment one looses his boat the other one doesn’t that’s a bigger issue than the other guy has to deal with
The cheaters are known in Scotland . Glad they go some jail at the end .
Them rods are shocking usa tackle is really 20 years behind uk tackle
So they basically didn't get anything. Their reputation being ruined is probably the worst thing that happened to them.
Too bad they were able to get the damn boat back
A shame that the dnr would allow such light sentences.
Sadly, the DNR does not have any control over the sentencing….
Well there goes the weekly poker game boys no more cheating
This sucks , all this shows the people that wanna chest is the punishment ain’t shit …
As a fisherman I would have love to these these guys get banned from all fishing licenses for life . Never allowed to compete again , after 3 years they both be somewhere fishing in tourneys watch
When mayors in Democratic cities appoint DA's that don't prosecute violent crimes, this is a stiff sentence....
On top of this , they should have been given a first class azz whooping when caught. And a big tattoo on their forehead so I can recognize their face on the water.
Hey Dieter ,
It's a shame that people go to the extent of Cheating to try and win a fishing contest or just plain cheating to get ahead in anything ! Oh Yes , They will be recognized as Cheaters
And that will be the biggest punishment of all ! Take Care and Be Safe !
The boat was won in a big tournament as the top prize
lifetime loss of right to participate in any fishing tournament for life and repay all winnings from the past. Next case. Surprised this stuff isnt checked more often and more cheating found
I do love fishing but still can't wrap my head around walking into the woods to kill anything that moves . I'm sorry But I just don't feel that need to get my gun off like that ...
It's not for everyone....
I figured they would do that at any fishing tournament look for weights!?
I could sleep off a ten day sentence come on. I was on probation for 3 years 5 thousand dollar fine and three months in jail i served 30 days . All for taking a piss next to the river. Where i thought no one was around. But a lady seen me from behind called the law .. totally different situation I know. There lives in the fishing world of over. But they still stole money
Cheaters never prosper
Remember when people just went fishing for fun lol
How about paying everyone there money back too
They never received any money in this tournament…..
I think it’s responsible considering their reputation is in the toilet.
Guess you have better watch out for these guys at pay lakes since its the only place they can fish at for the next 3 years.
As much they earned already by cheating, they already got it made. They shoukd've been punished worse but law only allows so much for this kind of crime.
10 days? Plus community service what a joke they been doing this for years and collecting alot of money 😤😡
Bro u can’t charge people for what u think they did. It pisses me off too , but u gotta look at it differently.
ATTEMPTING to cheat ? If thats not cheating i dont know what is. What about all the other tournaments they cheates in ? I heard they have won more tournaments in the past. You know they did this before but were never caught until now The punishment didnt fit the crime so these 2 cheaters may try it again.
The number of times you say “uh” or “ah” is ridiculous.
I cannot go along with the punishment. It is way, way short of being justice measured out.
So basically they made money and got off Scott free
You apparently didn’t watch the video….
A 10 day sentence, what is the point?
That's what we need cheater to donate to teach our kids to cheat,, typical slap on wrist bs
This is ridiculous everybody in the world cheats and nothing is ever done look at NASCAR racing how much cheating goes on nobody's ever arrested and do you think this is going to stop anybody from cheating I doubt it
Not trying to get political but metal detectors at a fishing tournament and not at our schools is just disturbing 💁♂️.
something smells fishy!
Yea they cheated but so many people have done such worse things than this and they are not even in as much trouble sad day for them there life’s are ruined for fish cheating
I wish they were able to Get Their fishing privileges taken away from them For Life if they have done it before they. Will do it again
A great podcast episode on this is the Meateater podcast. They have on the guy who busted them. It's great
They just need x ray machine😊
Slap on the wrist!
10 DAYS IN JAIL!!! BIG DEAL!! YOU GET MORE TIME AFTER 3 MARGARITAS!!! LMFAO