A Ketchikan man has pleaded guilty to felony theft and misdemeanor interference with commercial fishing gear following an Alaska Wildlife Trooper stakeout that led to his arrest last year.

According to a report by Hunter Morrison for KRBD, 49-year-old David Vest was arrested after Alaska troopers observed him and his crewman aboard the 32-foot Silver Surfer pulling another commercial fisherman’s Dungeness crab gear near Stone Island, between Ketchikan and Wrangell. Vest then cut the buoy line and replaced it with his own.

Vest pleaded guilty to second-degree theft and interference with commercial fishing gear. He was sentenced to two and a half years in jail, with one and a half years suspended, meaning he will serve one year. Vest must also forfeit the Silver Surfer and all equipment onboard and pay $1,500 in restitution to the fisherman whose gear was stolen.

As part of his three-year probation period following his jail term, Vest was barred from participating in any Dungeness crab fishery. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 22 at the Ketchikan Courthouse.