Purvis man pleads not guilty to importing deer

A Purvis man pleaded not guilty Thursday in federal court to charges connected to the live transportation of white-tailed deer from Texas to Mississippi, a violation of state and federal laws.

Coleman Virgil Slade faces seven charges including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, committing prohibited acts including transporting the deer across state lines and making a false statement to a federal law enforcement officer.

He faces up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine for each charge.

U.S. District Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker presided over Slade's initial court appearance and arraignment in the William M. Colmer Federal Building in Hattiesburg. He set a $25,000 unsecured bond, which means Slade will not have to pay anything unless he violates the terms of release.

Before the arraignment, Slade met briefly with his attorney, Bill Walter of Hattiesburg, to go over the charges before making his plea.

Slade is one of three men accused of importing the deer into Mississippi. Also charged are Don Durrett of Aspermont, Texas, and Dewayne Slade of Purvis. Durrett and Dewayne Slade were arraigned in federal court in April. Their trial dates initially were set for the court term beginning June 20 but were continued until the Aug. 22 term.

Coleman Slade's trial also is set for the Aug. 22 term. U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett will preside over the men's trials.

According to the indictment filed Feb. 2, from January 2009 through December 2012, the Slades and Durrett conspired to purchase and transport the deer in interstate commerce.

In the indictment, Coleman Slade allegedly conspired with Durrett for Durrett to make the purchase of the deer and bring the deer to his "high-fence" enclosed ranch in Stonewall County, Texas. The deer instead were allegedly transported by Coleman Slade with the help of Dewayne Slade to Dewayne Slade's "high-fence" ranch in Lamar County  "... for the purpose of breeding and killing trophy white-tailed buck deer."

Coleman Slade allegedly paid Durrett with two checks, one for $35,750, the other for $23,750.

According to U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis of the Southern District of Mississippi, Durrett's and the Slades' charges involve various violations of the federal Lacey Act.

Dewayne Slade faces one charge of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government. Durrett faces six charges.

The quest for big bucks in Mississippi is an economic driver at many levels, but importation is banned, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Wildlife Bureau director Chad Dacus said.

"The main reason is the potential disease transmission," Dacus said. "Anytime you're moving animals around, that's an opportunity to move disease."

One disease that has been at the forefront of discussion among hunters and biologists is chronic wasting disease. It is fatal to deer, and there is no cure. It has also been known to spread by transportation of deer.

Dacus found the suspected importation of deer into Mississippi particularly troubling because they came from Texas — a state with confirmed cases of CWD in several locations.

"Anytime you have deer coming from a state that is CWD-positive, it's a scary situation," Dacus said.

Clarion-Ledger reporter Brian Broom contributed to this report.