Deer and turkey poaching Brown County, OH (US) Incident Date: Friday, Oct 3, 2003 County: Brown Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abusers/Suspects: » Michael McCleese » Dana Holland » Jamie Holland

Case ID: 4869 Classification: Unlawful Trapping/Hunting Animal: deer, bird (wildlife) View more cases in OH (US) Login to Watch this Case

Wildlife poachers finally had their day in court resulting from a tip that led Division of Wildlife officials to break up a Brown County poaching ring. Charged with a total 38 wildlife violations were Georgetown residents, Michael McCleese, Dana Holland and Jamie Holland. Charges included possession of untagged deer parts, deer taken unlawfully, deterring a wildlife officer, hunting turkey without license or permits, failure to tag a turkey and possession of an untagged turkey. Fines and court cost against the defendants amounted to over $7,500, also forfeited was a number of firearms and a Honda All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV).

According to Division of Wildlife Field Supervisor Tim Schlater, on Oct. 3, 2003, Brown County Officer Allan Wright was acting on an informant's tip that led to ATV tracks and evidence of deer hair and blood at a location just south of Georgetown on Old U.S. 68. Following the ATV tracks along a wooded hillside led Wright to an illegally killed 10-point buck suspended from a tree. According to Wright, the animal had been shot with a high-powered rifle on the day before bow season opened that year. Wright called for assistance, and Adams County Wildlife Officer Kevin Behr, and Clinton County Officer Michelle Welsh responded to the call. Behr and Welsh conducted surveillance on the illegal deer kill, while officer Wright made arrangements to have a search warrant prepared.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., Dana Holland and Michael McCleese approached the deer through the woods. After they encountered the wildlife officers the suspects fled. After a foot pursuit, Holland was arrested, but McCleese escaped capture. A search warrant was then executed at the nearby McCleese residence. Among the evidence seized included 21 sets of untagged and unlawfully taken deer antlers, illegal turkey parts, a bloody knife was found in a bathroom sink and camo clothes covered with deer hair and blood were recovered from the clothes washer.

Another search warrant was executed at the Holland residence and evidence seized there included a number of charred deer antlers recovered from several burn piles in which suspects tried to destroy evidence of illegal deer parts.

The case was finally settled in May 2005, after nearly one and a half years of litigation. The Brown County Municipal Court imposed fines and restitution on the defendants that totaled $4,650 and court cost that totaled $2,583. In addition to the fines and forfeiture, each defendant received two years suspension of hunting privileges.

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References

The People's Defender - June 24, 2005

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