Bidegain’s preliminary hearing set

QCS Staff

Scott Bidegain, former chairman of the New Mexico Game Commission, and four other defendants face a, April 30 preliminary hearingin Quay County Magistrate Court, accused of misdemeanors in a cougar killing.

All five defendants are accused of participating in an illegal cougar hunt on the T-4 Ranch, which Bidegain's family owns and operates. Bidegain resigned from the game commission because of the charges.

The 180,000-acre T-4 ranch lies in Quay, San Miguel and Guadalupe counties. The cougar killing occurred in San Miguel County.

Charged with Bidegain are Larry H. Webb of Newkirk; Billy G. Ivy of Canyon, Texas; Chad W. Hassell of Childress, Texas; and Jason E. Roselius of Oklahoma City, Okla. All have pleaded not guilty.

Roselius was cited for killing a cougar without a valid license.

A complaint filed in Quay County Magistrate Court on Feb. 17 alleges Bidegain did “unlawfully counsel, aid or abet in the killing of a cougar that was pursued by dogs without the licensed hunter being present continuously from the initial release of the dogs.”

It is a misdemeanor to “release dogs with the intent to pursue or hunt bears or cougars unless the hunter is present from the initial release of the dogs,” according to state statute.