Five members of the Makah Nation of Washington were sentenced on Monday for hunting a whale without a federal permit.

Andy Noel and Wayne Johnson were given prison time for violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act. They were considered the leaders of the rogue September 8, 2007, hunt.

Frankie Gonzales, Theron Parker and William Secor were sentenced to two years' probation and community service. All five men had pleaded guilty.

The tribe has a treaty that guarantees the right to hunt whales. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the tribe must follow the MMPA and obtain a permit.

Get the Story:
2 Makahs to serve time for illegally killing whale (The Seattle Times 7/1)
Two Makah whalers sentenced to prison (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 7/1)
Two Makah whalers sent to prison (The Peninsula Daily News 7/1)
Judge has words about 'tacks' used in Makah whalers' defense (The Peninsula Daily News 7/1)

Relevant Documents:
Draft EIS on Makah Whale-Hunting Request | Q&A

9th Circuit Decision:
Anderson v. Evans (June 7, 2004)

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