A former Nevada wildlife commissioner and his son who already are in trouble in Churchill and Pershing counties now face felony charges in Lincoln County alleging unlawful killing or possession of an elk without a valid tag.

Arrest warrants were issued in Pioche Justice Court for Bradley D. Quilici and his son Dario Quilici.

In Churchill County, Bradley Quilici is accused of 12 counts of making a false statement to obtain a license, tag or permit. His son faces 16 counts of the same offense.

Churchill County Deputy District Attorney Brandi Jensen alleges that Dario Quilici, 23, used his father's Lovelock address to apply for hunting and fishing licenses six times in 2002, six times in 2003 and four times this year while he actually lived in Cedar City, Utah.

He reportedly used those Nevada licenses to apply for tags for seven hunts last year. He drew an archery antelope tag and a rare bull elk tag, harvesting both animals, Jensen claims.

Pershing County authorities arrested the men on charges of killing or possessing a pronghorn antelope without a valid tag.

In court documents filed in Pioche, Game Warden John Swisher said he received information that Dario Quilici received a Nevada resident hunting license and big game tags while attending college in Utah and paying in-state tuition.

On March 26, Swisher alleges, Bradley Quilici gave false information to a licensing agent to obtain a resident hunting license for his son. Bradley Quilici was a member of the Nevada Wildlife Commission at the time. He served between December 1999 and May 5 when he resigned.

Both Quilicis are accused of transporting a bull elk that was killed in Lincoln County.

Reno attorney Ken McKenna, who represents the Quilicis, said Dario Quilici never gave up his Nevada residency while he attended college in Utah and has voted in Nevada in every election.

"Should he be punished for going to college out of state?" McKenna asked.

McKenna claims Jensen offered a plea bargain involving the Churchill County charges and gave him 48 hours to respond or the Lincoln County felony would be filed.

"She had a 48-hour gun to our heads to accept a plea bargain with the threat of felony charges being filed," he said. "It's ridiculous to ask me to make a reasonable decision in 48 hours."

Jensen denied placing an unreasonable time limit on a plea bargain offer. She said the offer was made June 4 and the Pioche charges weren't filed until June 28, which far exceeds 48 hours.

"We're prosecuting this case the same way we prosecute other cases. It's being treated the same as any other case," Jensen said.