COLUMBUS, OH - Eight suspects from Lorain County face 164 misdemeanor charges and eight felony charges involving the alleged poaching of white-tailed deer in Coshocton and Knox counties, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Overkill," began in September 2006 as an anonymous tip through the division's Turn-In-a-Poacher (TIP) hotline. Wildlife officials allege that the group of suspects drove to Coshocton and Knox counties on several occasions and shot deer from inside their vehicles or along the roadway in violation of state laws.

Numerous charges will be filed in Coshocton Municipal Court, Knox County Court of Common Pleas, and the Mount Vernon Municipal Court.

Charges include felonies for the illegal handling of firearms, as well as misdemeanor wildlife violations including: shooting deer from the roadway, hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, taking more than the bag limit of deer, taking more than one buck deer, hunting on private property without permission, failing to tag and check deer, hunting outside of legal hunting hours, using a radio for hunting purposes, and hunting deer without a deer permit.

The investigation into this case is ongoing. Additional arrests may follow.

If convicted, the suspects will face fines, possible jail time and forfeiture of hunting privileges. A first-time misdemeanor wildlife offense involving the illegal taking or possession of deer could result in fines of up to $500 and a maximum of 60 days in jail. Violators also may be required to pay restitution for illegally taken animals at a minimum value of $400 per deer. All illegally taken wildlife, as well as firearms and motor vehicles used in the violations, may be forfeited.

The Division of Wildlife's TIP line continues to curtail wildlife violations across the state by encouraging citizens to report any illegal activity they observe. Tips may be phoned anonymously to 1-800-POACHER or submitted online at www.wildohio.com

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"Operation Overkill" SUSPECTS AND CHARGES

David A. Saltis, 39, Lorain - charged with two felonies; possessing a firearm while under disability and shooting from a motor vehicle. Saltis is also charged with 68 misdemeanor wildlife violations, including: hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, taking more than the bag limit of deer, taking more than one buck deer, hunting on private property without permission, failing to tag and check deer, possession of untagged deer, transporting an illegally taken deer, killing and leaving deer without tagging, hunting outside of legal hunting hours, using a radio for hunting purposes, and hunting deer without a deer permit.

George Saltis Jr., 40, Lorain - charged with one felony of shooting from a motor vehicle as well as 31 misdemeanor wildlife violations, including: hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, hunting on private property without permission, failing to tag and check deer, hunting deer without a deer permit, litter, and aiding an offender.

George Saltis Sr., 66, Lorain - charged with two felonies: complicity and shooting from a motor vehicle. Saltis Sr. was also charged with 23 misdemeanor wildlife violations, including: hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, hunting on private property without permission, transporting an illegally taken deer, possession of an untagged deer, aiding an offender and failing to tag deer.

James E. Strehle, 67, Sheffield Lake - charged with two felony counts of complicity, as well as 29 misdemeanor wildlife violations, including: shooting from the road, hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, hunting on private property without permission, failing to tag and check deer, possession of untagged deer, transporting an illegally taken deer, hunting outside of legal hunting hours, using a radio for hunting purposes, and aiding an offender.

Jeffrey A. Saltis, 18, Elyria - charged with four misdemeanor wildlife violations, including: hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, shooting across a roadway, and aiding an offender.

Joaquin Segarra, 39, Lorain - charged with one felony for possession of a firearm while under disability. Segarra is also charged with three misdemeanor wildlife violations, including: hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, possession of untagged deer, and transporting an illegally taken deer.

Michael C. Lowe, 52, Lorain - charged with three misdemeanor wildlife violations, including: providing false information to a check station, attaching a deer tag to a deer taken by another person, and permanently tagging a deer that was taken by another person.

Thomas E. Saltis, 32, Lorain - charged with two misdemeanor wildlife violations, including: hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, and shooting deer from the road.