re: Montana man - 6 months prison for cloning giant sheep and breeding it for hunting

I get the potential for a negative environmental impact and don't doubt that he broke laws. But, the punishment seems a bit harsh. Judges all the time consider life and age factors in passing sentences. 6 months in jail and 20k+ in fines for a man in his 80s for making a trophy sheep seems more than excessive.

He did it to himself through his own actions, but if there is youthful offender status leeway, there should certainly be consideration for elderly offender status. The jail time would have sufficed. 6 months at that age are pretty precious months. The fine just ensures he is impoverished until he dies.