TACOMA — Only three of five accused Makah whalers walked out of U.S. District Court on Monday.
The remaining two, identified by the judge as the leaders of the illegal hunt last Sept. 8, left in the hands of federal marshals to take them to prison.
Andy Noel will spend 90 days in a federal detention facility — probably the one at Seatac.
Wayne Johnson will serve a five-month sentence.
Both also will serve a year’s probation after their release from custody, during which Noel must put in 150 hours of community service, and Johnson 175 hours
The other three defendants — Frankie Gonzales, Theron Parker and William Secor — were placed on two years’ probation and won’t serve any incarceration.
Gonzales and Secor will serve 100 hours of community service. Parker will put in 150 hours.
All were charged with misdemeanor violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act when they shot and harpooned a gray whale in the Strait of Juan de Fuca just northeast of Neah Bay.
After floating for about 10 hours, the whale died and sank. The carcass never resurfaced.
