PA Trio Sentenced For Poaching 19 Deer, Leaving Bodies To Rot

SOMERSET COUNTY, PA — An adult and two juvenies have been sentenced for illegally killing 19 deer over a two-month span and leaving most of the bodies to rot.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission said that one of the minors was found guilty of 23 felony and two summary counts including unlawful killing or taking of big game and unlawful use of lights while hunting. He was fined $25,000, must pay $5,000 in replacement costs and must surrender all firearms used in the killing. He is prohibited from hunting and trapping for 50 years.

Also, Caleb Roland, 26, of Somerset, pleaded guilty to three summary counts of unlawful killing or taking of big game. He was fined $3,000, must pay $5,000 in replacement costs and must forfeit all firearms used in the killings. He is banned from hunting and trapping for 30 years.

The game commission's investigation was able to identify 19 white-tailed deer killed by the trio, although there might have been up to 31 unlawfully killed throughout multiple townships in Somerset County. Most of the poaching came at night when they would shoot from the vehicle with a spotlight. Although some of the white-tailed deer were taken for food, many were just left in the fields to rot.

According to the game commission, the two juveniles involved are habitual game law violators. Commission officials said the witness who reported a violation played a critical role in uncovering the poaching activity.