Suspected poacher has record

Alleged ringleader served time for manslaughter

JOHN DODGE THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- The alleged leader of a South Sound geoduck poaching ring cracked by state agents Monday was involved in the March 1986 murder-for-hire shooting death of Joanne Jirovec in an Olympia restaurant parking lot.

Douglas John Martin Tobin, 48, served six years of a 10-year sentence for first-degree manslaughter and was released from prison in July 1993, state Department of Corrections spokesman Veltry Johnson said.

Shellfish ring

On Monday, Tobin was arrested in Fife on suspicion of operating a shellfish poaching operation that harvested and sold up to $3 million worth of geoduck and clams from South Sound waters during the past 18 months.

In December 1986, Tobin pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge for his role in the contract murder of the wife of Olympia businessman Daniel E. Jirovec.

Jirovec is serving a life sentence without parole for arranging the murder of his wife, an administrative assistant at The Evergreen State College at the time. A third man, Daryl Burns of Centralia, was sent to prison for firing the shot that killed Joanne Jirovec.

Tribal beds targeted

Tobin is a member of the Squaxin Island tribe who has participated in tribal geoduck, clam and salmon fisheries over the years, tribal Natural Resources Director Jim Peters said.

About 60 tribal members are involved in a tribal geoduck fishery that nets about 300,000 pounds of geoducks per year in South Sound, Peters said.

Some of Tobin's alleged illegal grab of geoducks occurred at night in South Sound areas set aside for the legitimate tribal harvesters, which were closed at the time, Peters said.

It's not clear yet if Tobin's suspected illicit activities have cut into the supply of geoducks available for future tribal harvesting, Peters said.

Tobin's boat was searched by tribal fisheries officers as recently as March 15 near McNeil Island for signs of illegal harvest activity, Peters said. No evidence was found, Peters said.

Tribal police were aware that Tobin was the subject of a lengthy undercover investigation by state agents and the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, Peters said.

Tobin also is an accomplished woodcarver. He and other tribal artisans were paid $60,000 by the Port of Olympia in 1999 to carve a Salish welcome pole that will be on display in the Port Plaza, a waterfront park and concert venue slated for construction this summer.

Port Executive Director Nick Handy said port officials were aware of Tobin's felony record when he was hired.

"He is a very talented artisan who had served his time," Handy said. "We were sorry to hear he was involved in this geoduck poaching case."

Tobin's company, Toulok Seafoods Inc. of Fife, was fined $40,000 by the state Department of Ecology last month for a diesel fuel spill in Milton in October.

About 20 gallons of fuel entered Hylebos Creek through a storm drain after it leaked from a container in the back of a pickup truck.

The fine was severe because the company failed to notify authorities of the spill and washed some of the diesel down a storm drain at the company's Fife processing plant, Ecology inspector Ron Holcomb said.

Tobin said at the time that the employee responsible for the fuel spill was terminated.

"My advice to others is to immediately call 9-1-1 and do the right thing by reporting the spill," Tobin said.

About 1,500 pounds of geoducks, crab, two boats, six vehicles and three rifles were seized by authorities at the Fife processing plant Monday in connection with the arrest of Tobin and four others.

For more local news go to the South Sound section.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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