EVANSTON (WNE) — Three men accused of roping, riding and dragging an aged and feeble moose were arraigned in the Third District Court on Tuesday, March 17.

Justin Martin, 54, his son Range Martin, 23, of Uinta County and Kylan Platt of Malad City, Idaho, 22, each pleaded not guilty to their respective charges.

The case began in July of 2022 while Justin Martin was being investigated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for a separate, undisclosed offense. According to

court documents, the game warden subsequently discovered “evidence of a potential major wildlife violation” on the elder Martin’s cellphone.

The discoveries were later detailed as two videos allegedly depicting Platt roping, riding and spurring the moose and Range Martin roping and dragging the moose through tall sage-brush on a separate occasion.

Court affidavits also identify Justin Martin as the person filming the incidents and encouraging the young men, saying “alright now, spur that son of a bitch … spur on him!’”

The interactions occurred roughly three weeks apart and, while it could not be determined that it was the same moose, the game warden testified in February that the animal featured in each of the videos was the “same approximate size” and “same body condition.”

The moose was also described as thin and frail with “bone structure poking through its skin,” graying and patchy fur and likely blind due to a sunken-in eye socket with an undetectable pupil.

If convicted, Range Martin and Platt each face up to four and a half years behind bars and/or $26,000 in fines for identical charges of one felony count of cruelty to animals and two misdemeanor counts of wanton taking of a big game animal, a cow moose; and possession permit required for live warm-blooded wildlife, a cow moose.

Justin Martin faces up to six years behind bars and/or $30,000 in fines for two felony counts of accessory before the fact to felony cruelty of animal and two misdemeanor counts of accessory before or after the fact to wanton taking of a big game animal.