Judge rules Francis must stand trial

Randal Francis, the 35-year-old Lakewood man accused of poaching Samson, the trophy elk, was ordered Friday to stand trial for the Nov. 11 offense.

Larimer County District Court Judge John-David Sullivan ruled that the District Attorneyís Office had presented adequate evidence to show that the suspect did not make a reasonable effort to recover the body of the slain elk at the Estes Park Center of the YMCA of the Rockies.

Sullivanís finding ended a two-phase preliminary hearing for Francis that began Dec. 28.

His next appearance is scheduled for Feb. 13, at which time he could be arraigned or presented with a plea bargain prepared by the District Attorneyís Office.

Francis, represented by public defender Andy Saliman, could face a maximum fine of $100,000, four years in prison and permanent loss of hunting privileges.

He is accused of willful destruction of wildlife and possession of a rifle by a convicted felon.

During testimony at the hearing, Division of Wildlife investigator Dal Schaefer said there is inconclusive DNA evidence to trace Francis to other poachings that occurred elsewhere in Colorado. However, analysts did find a match between DNA on a bloody meat saw in Francisí truck and a set of antlers he sold to a Denver taxidermist.

Prosecutors argue that Francis deliberately left the scene after killing Samson with a crossbow because he feared arrest for the poaching.

Saliman countered that darkness prevented him from finding his prey, and that he returned home to get help for dressing the game.