Second man arrested in illegal bear parts case

Published 10:09 pm Friday, August 1, 2008

A second man wanted in connection with the illegal sale of a stuffed black bear has been arrested.

Jerry Lee Ledford, 55, of 90 Holly Drive, Chatsworth, was arrested Thursday by rangers with the state Department of Natural Resources and charged with two counts of illegal sale of bear parts.

Ledford and John Gallman, a Murray County taxidermist, are accused of selling stuffed wild bears. Ledford worked for Gallman, officials said.

Gallman, 60, of 356 McEntire Circle, was arrested Monday and charged with illegal sale of bear parts, failure to tag wildlife properly and failing to keep taxidermy records.

The charges are misdemeanors and carry a penalty of up to a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

Gallman and Ledford have been released from the Murray County Jail.

Gallman said he didn’t want to talk about the charges when reached at his home Tuesday afternoon. A number for Ledford could not be found.