I don't wanna try your save, I want to understand why this nonsense is happening and I'm not wading through this game's whack-ass code base to determine why. Because if you can run away at 300 hunting (which I had seen obliquely referenced prior to your post, but your post makes it clear), that would make sense. Even more sense if the guard only showed up in the late game, when the player's Gaston is basically near 300 hunting (if not already). But for me, that didn't happen, the guards were harassing me since basically Day 12, with like 49 hunting (which, based on what you have said, might be a bug). So suddenly this game takes like 4 times as long since every other time I have to go downtown, I have to wait 7ish days in the stocks (5 if I pick up shit). Boy, I would like to pay that fine off, but I guess paying the "fine" off hasn't been implemented...?
But hey, sometimes, I guess you get what you paid for!