Three Arrested In
Deer-Jacking Case
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
MILFORD – Conservation officers have charged three Otsego County hunters with 146 charges in the with killing of eight deer Nov. 22 in fields along Route 35 in the Town of Milford.
Wayne Shutters, 20, Town of Maryland, Joziah M. Underwood, 19, Schenevus, and a 16-year-old youth, also of Maryland, were charged with multiple counts of Environmental Conservation Law violations, including taking deer with the aid of an artificial light – known as “deer-jacking” – discharging a firearm from a public highway, possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, hunting big game during closed hours, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling.
On Nov. 22, conservation officers received a call from Otsego County 911 that several dead deer had been found in fields along County Highway 35, which runs up the east side of the Susquehanna between Portlandville and Milford. Troopers and DEC K-9 units assisted in the recovery of evidence and the deer were transported to DEC’s wildlife pathology lab in Delmar for necropsies.
Three additional deer were discovered later, related to this incident. Additionally, two firearms were confiscated.
Each of the charges carry a penalty of up a year in jail and/or fines of up to $2,000. In addition to the fines and potential jail time, the defendants also face potential revocation of their hunting licenses.
That is $2000 fine per deer!
Hoping that the judicial system will give them stiff jail sentences and revoke their hinting licenses permanently.
$2000 fine ? !!! Should be a 10,000 fine and three to five years in jail. Gives all the rest of the law abiding Sportsmen a bad rap…
I am very happy they were caught.
I believe the 16 year old should also be charged with possession of a stolen weapon, sence he took the gun from his grandfather without permission, granted his gun has been returned back to the grandfather its was still stolen. This boy has been in alot of trouble and he will not learn from his stupid mistakes if he continues to get away with it because of his age. From my understanding he will be allowed to have a hunting licence again after age 18 because he is not being charged as a adult. Also a $2000 fine for killing all those deer how crazy is that. It should be $2000 per deer per person. Personally i think there getting off way to easy. I have read in the papers where people get the same punishment for killing one deer.
So glad they were found. A year is not enough for these young men as they have no compassion for animals and will do it again for the thrill. Let them sit in jail for two years and give them time to think abut what they have done
If I am reading this correct it is 1 yr or $2,000 PER charge and they have 146 charges against them.
Disgusting. Let em sit in jail for a long time… who raises these p.o.s?
I agree with everything said on here. Hefty fines with each deer shot, not ever being allowed a license and NOT being allowed to own a gun, of any kind. I am so ashamed of the actions of these young men, especially one. Shame on you……
There were more than 140 total charges against the three individuals, and most of the charges carry a penalty of up to a year in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.
Interested in outcome of their arrests. Anybody know anything? Karen