BARNSTABLE COUNTY, Mass. — August 2, 2014 — A West Yarmouth man was sentenced Friday to two years in the Barnstable County Correctional Facility for poaching thousands of oysters from beds in Dennis and Barnstable last summer.
Michael Bryant, 37, pleaded guilty in Barnstable Superior Court to shellfishing in a contaminated area, a commercial fishing license violation and six counts of larceny of more than $250.
Judge Gary Nickerson sentenced Bryant to the two-year term for shellfishing in a contaminated area and 10 years of probation for the remaining offenses. Bryant must complete two years of supervised probation; after that, his probation will end upon the payment of restitution.
A restitution hearing was scheduled for Sept. 12. The Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office estimates that restitution will be $25,000.
Bryant was responsible for a string of raids on oyster grants in Crowes Pasture in Dennis and in a town-run area in Barnstable in June and July of 2013.
In court Friday, James Ward, a victim who owns grants in Crowes Pasture, thanked law enforcement officials who "made this day possible." He was joined by Lynne Fox, a co-worker, and Aaron Brochu, who also owns grants in Crowes Pasture that were raided by Bryant.
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