Albert Taitano and David Santos appeared before visiting Nevada Judge Philip M. Pro on Friday.
Adrian Mendiola, the third defendant, also denied the charges during his initial appearance and arraignment on Thursday.
Judge Pro scheduled the jury trial for Nov. 15, 2010.
Assistant U.S Attorney Eric S. O’Malley is the prosecutor, while the defendants are being represented by attorneys Ramon Quichocho, Bruce Berline, and Michael Dotts.
The three defendants, who were released on their own personal recognizance, were indicted by a grand jury for violations of the Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the NMI Alicia A.G. Limtiaco said the violations occurred on Rota, and relate to poaching incidents in 2008 wherein two of the few remaining breeding colonies of the Mariana fruit bat were decimated by hunters using 12-gauge and .410 shotguns.
“The Mariana fruit bat, or ‘fanihi,’ is an important species not just to our islands’ ecology, but to the local island culture,” she said. “The species belongs not just to the people of this generation, but to future generations as well, and it is important that we allow them to repopulate and thrive.”
