SIX INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED IN MORROW COUNTY POACHING RING
Poachers will pay $7,400 in fines and restitution and serve 40 days in jail
COLUMBUS, OH – Six people were convicted and sentenced in Morrow County Municipal and Common Pleas courts for a total of 77 misdemeanor and two felony charges related to the illegal commercialization, taking, processing, and possession of deer, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The investigation into this poaching ring began in October of 2006 when an ODNR Division of Wildlife officer conducting an inspection of a meat processing facility in Morrow County discovered multiple deer which had been illegally harvested with a small caliber rifle. State Wildlife Officers executed five search warrants on four residences and one vehicle, and found and seized multiple .22 caliber rifles, .22 caliber ammunition, crossbows, arrows and illegally taken and possessed deer meat. Drugs, drug paraphernalia and marijuana cultivation equipment were also seized.
The suspects were tried and convicted of 77 charges and sentenced to a total of $8,100 in fines, $7,100 of which was suspended; $3,200 in restitution; court costs; 1,770 days in jail, all but 40 of which were suspended. Two individuals lost their hunting privileges for life, and one individual lost his privileges for five years.
The charges and sentences were as follows:
David Sheppard, 18, of Marengo - One felony count of commercialization of deer and the following misdemeanor counts: 8 counts of spotlighting deer, 4 counts of taking deer by unlawful means, 5 counts of failing to tag deer, 4 counts of failing to check deer, 2 counts of overbagging on deer, 8 counts of possessing untagged deer parts, and 1 count of possessing deer taken contrary to division rule.
Sheppard appeared in the Morrow County Common Pleas Court for his felony sentencing hearing. He was sentenced to 11 months in prison, deferred, with a $1,000 fine, $800 of which was suspended. He was placed on 5 years of community control.
Sheppard was also sentenced to serve 30 days in the Morrow County Jail with 10 days suspended, five years probation with the first year being intensive, 250 hours of community service with 150 hours being mandatory and shall be conducted in a form related to the ODNR, write a 500 word letter of apology for publication by ODNR, follow a curfew from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. and pay restitution in the amount of $3,200. His hunting license is suspended for his lifetime and he shall not possess whitetail deer or parts thereof.
David Sheppard appeared in Morrow County Municipal Court on his remaining Misdemeanor summonses and was sentenced $1,000 in fines with $750 suspended. He was also ordered to serve 45 days in jail on both counts all of which was suspended for a period of 1 year probation. Additionally, as part of the probation he is to have no contact with another suspect, David Hamlin. Again, his hunting privileges were suspended for life.
David Hamlin, 18, of Marengo – One felony count of commercialization of deer and the following misdemeanor counts: 8 counts of spotlighting deer, 4 counts of taking deer by unlawful means, 4 counts of failure to tag deer, 4 counts of failure to check deer, and 1 count of overbagging on deer.
Hamlin appeared in the Morrow County Common Pleas Court for his felony hearing and received the following sentence: 11 months in prison, deferred, with a $1,000 fine, $800 of which was suspended, with five years of community control.
He was also sentenced to serve 30 days in the Morrow County Jail with 10 days suspended, five years probation with the first year being intensive, 250 hours of community service with 150 hours being mandatory and shall be conducted in a form related to the ODNR, write a 500 word letter of apology for publication by ODNR, obey a curfew from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. and pay restitution in the amount of $3,200. This restitution is jointly and severally liable with David Sheppard, for the total amount. His hunting license is suspended for his lifetime and he shall not possess whitetail deer or parts thereof.
David Hamlin also appeared in Morrow County Municipal Court on his remaining misdemeanor summonses and was sentenced to $750 in fines with $750 suspended. He was also ordered to serve 30 days in jail on each of two counts, all of which was suspended for a period of 1 year probation.
Paul Greenwalt, 41, of Marengo - He was charged with 5 counts of buying deer, 2 counts of tagging a deer taken by another, 2 counts of checking in a deer taken by another, and 2 counts of providing false information to a check station. He was found guilty on 9 charges.
Paul Greenwalt was sentenced to $4,500 fines, with $3,000 suspended, and ordered to serve 60 days in jail on each of the nine charges, all of which was suspended during a 2 year probationary period. His hunting privileges were suspended for a period of 5 years.
Lorna Greenwalt, 40, of Marengo – She was charged with 1 count of tagging a deer taken by another, 1 count of checking in a deer taken by another, and 1 count of providing false information to a check station.
She was sentenced to $1,500 in fines, with $1,200 suspended. She was ordered to serve 60 days in jail on each of the three charges, all of which was suspended during a 2 year probationary period.
Jack Styer, 59, of Marengo - He was charged with 3 counts of buying deer, 1 count of tagging a deer taken by another, 1 count of checking in a deer taken by another, and 1 count of providing false information to a check station.
Styer was sentenced to $2,750 in fines with $1,900 suspended. He was ordered to serve 60 days in jail on each of the charges all of which was suspended during a 2 year probationary period.
Michael Daniels, 34, of Marengo – He was charged with 1 count of tagging a deer taken by another, 1 count of checking in a deer taken by another, and 1 count of providing false information to a check station.
Daniels was sentenced to $1,500 in fines with $600 suspended. He was ordered to serve 60 days in jail on each of the charges all of which was suspended during a 2 year probationary period.
William Conner, 29, of Marengo was charged with one count of interfering with a wildlife officer and was sentenced to pay a $100 fine.