Individuals plead guilty to 71 charges, fines and costs total more than $23,000
Harrisburg, PA -(Ammoland.com)- Six people from Spring Grove have been sentenced to more than $23,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to poaching 18 white-tailed deer ranging from yearlings to adult does and bucks, including a 9-point.
They also were guilty of being in possession of two additional unlawful deer. Amy Daugherty, 44, Jennifer Rosenberry, 41, and a minor waived their rights to hearings and pleaded guilty to five counts of unlawful taking of big game, four counts of shooting on or across highways, three counts of unlawful use of lights while hunting, three counts of unlawfully spotlighting during firearms deer season, two counts of using a motorized vehicle to locate game or wildlife, two counts of possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle, two counts of false or fraudulent statements or reports, one count of using a rifle during archery season, and one count of unlawful taking or possession of game or wildlife.
The three were assessed to pay $7,650 in fines, plus court costs. Cain Rosenberry, 30, Joshua Runkle, 21, and another minor pleaded guilty to 10 counts of unlawful taking of big game, eight counts of trespassing on private property, eight counts of unlawful use of lights while hunting, seven counts of shooting on or across highways, five counts of unlawful taking or possession of game or wildlife, five counts of unlawfully spotlighting during firearms deer season, two counts of failing to report big game kills within 10 days, two counts of false or fraudulent statements on reports, one count of using a motorized vehicle to locate game or wildlife, and one count of possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
As part of the plea agreement accepted by Magisterial District Judge Thomas Reilly, of Spring Grove, the three are ordered to pay $15,650 in fines. Additionally, one of the firearms used in the commission of much of the illegal activity has been ordered to be forfeited to the Game Commission.
The charges against the individuals stem from a three month poaching spree in the area of Spring Grove, in York County. The first of the violations occurred in September and the last happened on the final Friday of the 2014 regular firearms deer season in December. The individuals admitted to shooting all 18 white-tailed deer during those three months.
While the illegal activity began months earlier, the Game Commission didn’t receive a report about it until the second week of the regular firearms deer season. As many as 17 deer had been killed by that time.
On Dec. 10, Wildlife Conservation Officer Steven Knickel and Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer Matthew Miller responded to an area where shots were reported to be fired from the road.
Knickel served a search warrant at the Daugherty home Dec. 18. Multiple firearms, bows, crossbows, and other hunting equipment, as well as skulls, antlers, hides and meat were seized.
Also taken was a dry erase board with a tally of each individual’s harvest totals for the year.
A total of 20 unlawful deer were harvested by all parties involved, including several tagged using Maryland tags.
Over half of the animals were killed at night time or during closed season, using lights, or shot from the highway. Some were taken on private property on which the individuals had no permission to hunt. One was shot from the vehicle. Ten of the animals poached were killed with the firearm forfeited to the Game Commission.
The deer were all processed and packaged at the Daugherty residence.
About Pennsylvania Game Commission
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is legally mandated to manage wildlife for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians, as well as all wildlife and the habitat that supports their existence. Pennsylvania’s Constitution and Game and Wildlife Code direct the Game Commission to protect, manage, and preserve wildlife and their habitat within the Commonwealth for the benefit of all people, including generations yet to come. Based on this direction, the Game Commission adopted the mission statement “to manage all wild birds, wild mammals, and their habitats for current and future generations.”
For more information, please visit www.pgc.state.pa.us.