Brothers guilty in dolphin death get probation

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Two Bridge City brothers who pleaded guilty to a federal wildlife violation in connection with the death of a bottlenose dolphin in Cow Bayou last year were sentenced to one year of probation, including a ban on hunting and fishing, and will share $7,353.50 in restitution.

U.S. Magistrate Keith Giblin sentenced Cory James Moseley, 23, and Cade Ryan Moseley, 18, during a brief hearing Wednesday morning. The Moseleys did not address the court in detail.

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The brothers were fishing on Cow Bayou near Orangefield on July 26, 2014 when they spotted a pair of dolphins.

Cory Moseley allegedly shot at the dolphins multiple times with a compound bow. He did not strike either dolphin, according to information presented to the court.

Younger brother Cade Moselely was accused of firing the arrow that the U.S. government said claimed the dolphin's life.

David Barlow, the attorney who represented Cade Moseley, said the "avid outdoorsmen" did not know shooting at a dolphin was a federal crime and called it a "dumb, youthful" act.

The juvenile dolphin did not die immediately, but swam away and suffered a "painful death," Giblin said, reading material that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration submitted to the court. NOAA also told the court the accusations represent the "most extreme circumstances the (taking a marine mammal) statute entails," Giblin said.

The second dolphin was found in the bayou and rescued by wildlife agents and SeaWorld San Antonio personnel.

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