LAKEPORT, Calif. – Two Clearlake residents have been placed on probation, ordered to pay fines and stop fishing for three years for an April 2015 poaching case in which they were found by wardens with nearly 450 fish over the legal limit.

On Jan. 12 Thuan Van Ngo and Beem Thi Tran were convicted and sentenced for illegally catching and possessing too many crappie on Clear Lake, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

On April 24, 2015, Fish and Wildlife wardens Doug Willson and Tim Little were observing fishing activity at the Holiday Harbor Marina in Nice when they saw Ngo and Tran catching crappie, placing them in buckets and then placing the buckets next to a car, Hinchcliff said.

Hinchcliff said the wardens then observed a van pull up next to the buckets. The fish were placed in the van and both individuals left the area in the van with the fish. Approximately 15 minutes later the two returned and began fishing again.

The wardens observed Tran catch and keep 54 crappie; in addition to what she had, Ngo had 40 crappie, Hinchcliff said, explaining that the daily catch and possession limit is 25 crappie per person.

Willson and Little contacted the, and Ngo denied having placed fish in the van before it left the area. Hinchcliff said the wardens searched the van and found 110 crappie hidden inside the vehicle.

After further discussions with Tran and Ngo, Hinchcliff said the wardens obtained permission to search a business and residence belonging to the subjects in Clearlake.

At those Clearlake locations the wardens discovered and seized a total of 488 fish, according to Hinchcliff.

In total Tran and Ngo were in possession of 598 fish, 448 fish in excess of the amount they could legally possess, Hinchcliff said.

Hinchcliff, who handles poaching cases in the local courts, said he charged Ngo and Tran with conspiracy, and with taking and possessing fish exceeding the daily catch and possession limit.

They also were charged with possessing more than three times the legal possession limit pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 12013, which Hinchcliff said increases the penalties that can be imposed.

At their Jan. 12 court appearance, Hinchcliff said Ngo and Tran pleaded no contest to illegally catching crappie in excess of the daily bag limit.

Judge Stephen Hedstrom sentenced both to three years' probation and prohibited each from fishing for three years, Hinchcliff said.

In addition, Hinchcliff said Hedstrom ordered Ngo to pay a fine of $4,100 and Tran was ordered to pay a fine and restitution of $965.

Editor's note: The article originally incorrectly reported that both subjects were men.