Not literally...

+ 1

At what point would it be worth it? $10,000, $40,000, $100,000? It is a state jail felony, are there others you're willing to let off with a hand slap? Identity Theft, 3rd DWI, possession of child pornography?

I say book him fully, he admitted to the officials he altered the fish. A good lawyer may be able to get him leniency, but I believe sentencing guidelines are in place...

Virtually every tournament association in the country bans cheaters for life. One of the first questions asked on most polygraph tests for money winners is "have you ever cheated in a bass tournament?t"...Once upon a time, I think it was 1988 ish, the Granbury Bass Club DQ'd the top two or three finishers in it's open tournament for failing the polygraph test, and as I remember, that was the question. The entry form stated that anyone who had been previously DQ'd from a tournament was ineligible to compete, and that his how we got them...

You and my teenager would get along great! I mean, it wasn't his fault if you think about it. It was his raising. Blame the parents I say!

Integrity of the sport... How do we make sure people like this never enter another tournament? Its important to the fishing public to see an individual in these circumstances be prosecuted to the fullest extent. This creates the integrity, we as anglers, want in our sport.

Once you create the perception that all u get is a hand slap for trying to cheat in a tournament, there will be dozens more trying to cheat.

This is the guy from Big Bass Splash that cut the tail on a fish the last hour! Even if he didn't get caught his fish still wouldn't have won the heavy under for the event because his was a 2.58 and my brothers was a 2.59. Not worth no $2500 he would have won!

Isn't a difference between DQ and Cheating? let's say you are late to weigh in but you have your fish ready but the TD says you missed your cut off time and he DQ your bag? i don't think that is called cheating?

I covered a confession as a factor. If he is guilty then the felony and associated punishment is what he should get. I haven't seen anywhere that says he confessed but could have missed it.

David, well 50 Saturdays of picking up wrappers and trash over a long year would actually be a pretty good deterrent for many people. But, no, this has no relationship to ID theft, DWIs and child pornography where recidivism is extremely high. We incarcerate people committing those crimes to punish them . . . but it also makes society safer while they are put away.

He'll have no reason to trim tails ever again if he isn't able to compete.

I'm all for public service hours, the lost weekends, a financial fine, loss of license permanently or for a long time and lifetime bans from tournaments. Spending 40 grand, the cost of a year in prison these days? Nah! Save the cell for one of those others you mention.

Brad

The confession part was in the publication the TPW puts out. Said when questioned at tourney he admitted to it. He may have changed that plea after getting a lawyer. No violence was involved so he will serve little time of any. I think if found guilty, he loses all fishing priveleges in the state and can't fish tournaments