An 81-year-old man from Montana has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for unlawfully utilizing tissue and testicles from large sheep hunted in Central Asia and the U.S. to breed hybrid sheep for captive trophy hunting in Texas and Minnesota.
In sentencing Arthur “Jack” Schubarth of Vaughn, Montana, U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris faced a difficult decision. Judge Morris had to carefully consider Schubarth’s age and clean criminal record, while also imposing a sentence that would discourage others from attempting to alter the genetic composition of living beings on our planet.
Schubarth was ordered by Morris to pay a $20,000 fine and make a $4,000 payment to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Additionally, he will be given the opportunity to self-report to a medical facility within the Bureau of Prisons.
“I will spend the rest of my life repairing all the damage I have caused,” Schubarth confessed to the judge moments before receiving his sentence.
According to Schubarth’s attorney, Jason Holden, the cloning of the Marco Polo sheep, which was hunted in Kyrgyzstan in 2013, has had a devastating impact on his client’s life, reputation, and family.
Holden argued for a probationary sentence, emphasizing that Schubarth is a diligent individual who has consistently demonstrated care for animals. Furthermore, Holden highlighted Schubarth’s remarkable achievement in cloning the giant sheep, which he fondly named “Montana Mountain King” or MMK.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division has stated that Schubarth not only violated federal and state law and international treaties but also engaged in an illegal conspiracy to hide their actions from authorities.
Schubarth is the owner of Sun River Enterprises LLC, a 215-acre ranch that specializes in the trading and breeding of “alternative livestock” like mountain sheep, mountain goats, and ungulates. These animals are primarily sold to private hunting preserves, where individuals can pay to hunt captive trophy game. Schubarth has been involved in the game farm industry since 1987, according to his own statement..
In March, Schubarth pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring with five others to illegally use tissue from a Marco Polo sheep brought into the U.S. in order to clone the animal. Their intention was to create a larger, hybrid species of sheep that would be highly sought after for captive hunting operations.
“Normal mindset clouded by my enthusiasm”
During the conspiracy, court records revealed that Schubarth engaged in the sale of MMK semen and hybrid sheep to three individuals in Texas. Additionally, a resident from Minnesota brought 74 sheep to Schubarth’s ranch to have them inseminated at different points throughout the scheme. As part of these transactions, Schubarth managed to sell one direct descendant from MMK for a substantial sum of $10,000, as well as other sheep with lesser MMK genetics for varying, albeit smaller, amounts.
According to prosecutors, the animals involved in the case were valued at more than $250,000 but less than $550,000. Additionally, hybrid sheep were sold to individuals in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, and West Virginia.
U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich for the District of Montana condemned Schubarth’s criminal behavior, emphasizing that it is not in line with the values of Montanans when it comes to wildlife. Laslovich stated that Schubarth’s actions posed a significant threat to Montana’s native wildlife species, driven solely by his and his co-conspirators’ greed for financial gain.
According to prosecutors, individuals involved in the conspiracy intentionally introduced sheep breeds into Montana that were actually prohibited. As part of this scheme, they brought in 43 sheep from Texas.
Morris admonished, “You lost your focus while trying to navigate those rules.”
Holden requested a reduction in restitution, arguing that Schubarth provided food and care for the hybrid sheep on his ranch until they were ready to be slaughtered and the meat was donated to a food bank. Morris stated that the remaining hybrid sheep with Marco Polo DNA on Schubarth’s ranch must be sent to slaughter by the end of the year, with the meat also being donated. Schubarth has until December 2025 to sell his Rocky Mountain bighorn hybrid sheep.
According to Morris, Schubarth will be prohibited from breeding game stock for the duration of his three-year probation.
The court records do not disclose the identities of the five co-conspirators. However, Schubarth’s plea agreement mandates his full cooperation with prosecutors and his willingness to testify if required. The Montana wildlife officials are still in the process of investigating the case.
In a letter attached to the sentencing memo, Schubarth expressed his deep passion for every project he undertakes, including his “sheep project.” He admitted to feeling ashamed of his actions.
“I allowed my enthusiasm to overshadow my better judgment and sought to exploit any legal loopholes to maximize profits in the sheep industry,” he admitted. “While my family has always been financially stable, our current situation has left us struggling.”