In a case that took years to crack, game wardens say a Green River man used a .22 rifle outfitted with a suppressor made from plastic Coke bottles to illegally shoot five deer in town, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
In connection with the shootings, Timothy Crooks was sentenced to 15 days in jail for wanton waste of big game animals, while charges of using an illegal suppressor were dismissed, according to recently released Game and Fish 2024 law enforcement reports.
The pop-bottle contraption might have done an OK job of quieting the shots, saidVince Vanata of Cody, a Marine Corps veteran and retired law enforcement officer.
But using it was foolish and could have resulted in stiff charges for making and using an illegal suppressor in violation of federal firearms laws, he told Cowboy State Daily.
Five-Year Shooting Spree
The first deer was reported shot in August 2018.
Residents on Arkansas Drive in Green River told game wardens that they heard what sounded like small-caliber rifle shots and later found a dead doe deer, according to Game and Fish.
Two bucks were reported shot in August 2021.
Perhaps the most egregious incident was in September 2022, when children found a buck suffering from small-caliber gunshot wounds on the grounds of Harrison Elementary School in Green River.
“Usually, the deer run and try to hide when the kids are around, but this one didn’t move. It just stayed lying there,” Steven Lake, principal of Harrison Elementary School, told Cowboy State Daily at the time.
A game warden was called to the scene to euthanize the buck.
The last deer confirmed to be shot was a doe in August 2023, again in the area of Arkansas, according to the Game and Fish report.
Shooter Caught
Game wardens and Green River police officers conducted a warrant search at Crooks’ home in August 2023.
The seized several firearms, including a Marlin .22 rifle, ammunition and the homemade suppressor.
Ballistics testing later matched bullets found in some of the deer carcasses with the Marlin rifle, according to Game and Fish.
Crooks was charged with five counts of wanton destruction of a big game animal and four counts of using a suppressor to wantonly destroy a big game animal.
The suppressor-related charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement, according to Game and Fish.
Sweetwater County Circuit Court sentenced Crooks to 15 days in jail for each count, served concurrently, with three days credit for time already served.
His hunting privileges were revoked for 10 years, and he forfeited the rifle and suppressor, according to Game and Fish.
How Effective Was It?
As for the effectiveness of a Coke bottle suppressor, “it might possibly reduce the sound” of a .22 rifle, Vanata said.
“I could see that happening,” he said, adding that making a homemade suppressor is a dicey proposition.
Firearms suppressors are legal, but they must be made by a certified manufacturer, Vanata said.
Making one at home could violate the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA) he said.
They may not be bought over the counter, either. Buying a suppressor requires an application and vetting process that usually takes several days to complete.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
