7 charged with poaching deer
June 22nd, 2005 by Administrator
7 charged with poaching deer - They shot deer at night using spotlights. They shot them when they didn’t have licenses to do it. And they shot them when it wasn’t even hunting season.
That’s why the Pennsylvania Game Commission has charged seven people — six from Armstrong County and one from Butler County — with 75 violations of the state Game and Wildlife Code in what’s been called the largest case like this in the commission’s 10-county southwest region. The counts carry a maximum penalty of more than $72,000 in fines.
In an investigation that lasted months and involved investigators from the state police; local sheriff’s offices and the game commission, officers found that the six adults and one juvenile all knew each other and worked at various points together, said Barry Seth, the wildlife conservation officer who led the investigation.
Several of the seven are related, he said.
The crimes occurred over a four-month period, from August through November, in several communities in Armstrong County, including Bethel, Parks and Gilpin.
Police believe some of the men went out hunting together, while others processed the meat they collected.
Investigators found one man in the group, Samuel Cravener, of Vandergrift, who had 12 deer quarters at his home. That’s a minimum of six deer, Seth said, and it’s illegal.
“You can’t possess any wildlife that’s taken by unlawful means,” he said. “As soon as you assist in any manner, you’re culpable for that deer.”
That means that simply holding the light when a deer is killed at night is a crime, as is butchering a deer taken illegally.
Each deer that was taken resulted in an individual count.
David Rosenberger, of Ford City, faces the most charges. He was cited for 29 game law violations, with a possible maximum penalty of $22,000. The crimes include: unlawfully obtaining a hunting license; unlawful use of lights while hunting deer; taking antlered and antlerless deer out of season; illegally possessing deer; illegally possessing deer carcasses and venison; and conspiracy to commit various game law violations.
When officers went to Rosenberger’s home, they found two trophy-buck racks, as well as six more racks on boards and a box of antlers. Some of the antlers, Seth said, were still in velvet, proving they were taken out of season.
Seth had previously arrested Rosenberger and suspended his hunting license for other game law violations.
He called the violations “egregious,” for a couple of reasons, including the number of deer killed and the methods that were used.
“They shot does. They shot bucks. It didn’t matter to them,” he said. “They’re stealing from law-abiding sportsmen.”
Also facing charges are:
Dennis Rosenberger, of Ford City, cited for three counts of conspiracy to illegally take and possess deer.
Shawn Heilman, of Kittanning, cited for 15 counts including failure to properly report game kills; illegally taking and possessing wildlife; unlawful use of lights while hunting deer; and conspiracy to illegally take and possess wildlife.
Cravener is cited for 14 total counts of unlawful use of lights while hunting deer and illegally taking and possessing wildlife.
Matt Bureau, of Ford City, is charged with five counts of conspiracy to illegally take and possess wildlife and conspiracy to unlawfully use lights while hunting deer.
Dewey Buzzard III, of Butler, is charged with one game law violation.
An unnamed 14-year-old juvenile, of Vandergrift, is charged with eight counts, including conspiracy to take and possess wildlife and conspiracy to unlawfully use lights while hunting deer.
They all could lose their hunting privileges for an extended period of time, Seth said.
“You shoot a deer with a light in their eyes. That’s a pretty cold-hearted act.”
By Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette