Roland Maw has been charged in Montana following an investigation regarding residency issues. Jim Kropp, chief of law enforcement for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, confirmed that the state has charged Maw, who owns property near Dillon, with seven counts of affirming to a false statement in order to obtain a resident hunting license.

The misdemeanor charges carry the possibility of fines up to $1,000, two to six months in county jail, and the loss of all hunting and fishing privileges. Alaska is one of several states that participates in a share program regarding these bans, so Maw could also lose his Alaska fishing and hunting privileges.

Maw likely will face charges in Alaska for residency fraud. According to public records, Maw has applied for an Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend check, or PFD, every year since 2002. 

Between 1996 and 2003, he purchased resident class fishing, hunting, or combination licenses from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

In 2003, he qualified for and purchased a Permanent Identification Card, which is issued to Alaska senior residents for free hunting, fishing and trapping. The card is void if the holder receives any benefits from another state, including resident licenses, voting rights, or tax breaks.

Walker named Maw to the Alaska Board of Fisheries on Jan. 20, replacing Chairman Karl Johnstone, who resigned when Walker told him he wouldn’t be reappointed following public and gubernatorial scrutiny of the board’s actions at the ADFG commissioner nominee selection meeting on Jan. 14.

At that meeting, Johnstone and his fellow board members declined to deem Maw qualified to interview for the job of Alaska Department of Fish and Game commissioner.

Roland Maw had unexpectedly withdrawn his name from consideration for the Board of Fisheries on Feb. 20 following scrutiny from the media and Legislature, despite favorable public support and desirable credentials for Walker’s desired scientific fisheries management.