HUNTINGDON, Pa. (PRNewswire) – After weeks of testimony and
evidence presentation, 18 defendants charged in a special investigation by
the Pennsylvania Game Commission have been found guilty of nearly 90
charges, and sentenced to pay more than $42,000 in fines. All cases were
heard before District Justice Richard Wilt.
Based upon information received from residents of the Huntingdon County
area, a long-term probe conducted by the Game Commission’s special
investigators revealed dozens of Game and Wildlife Code violations spanning
several years. Most violations centered on a butcher shop located in south
central Pennsylvania and operated by the main defendant, Matt Baker, 40, of
James Creek.
According to Greg Houghton, Game Commission Bureau of Law Enforcement
assistant director, the investigation expanded beyond the normal time for
such operations due to the continuous information being received and the
fact that a commercial meat processor in another part of the state was
involved.
Tim Marks, Game Commission Southcentral Regional Law Enforcement
Supervisor, said that many were surprised by the extent of the Game
Commission’s commitment to bring the violators to justice.
“We often see violators who have themselves convinced that people
approve of what they do, that there is some sort of justification for
stealing wildlife like in this case,” Marks said. “The real truth is that
investigations are started because law-abiding folks do not approve of what
is going on and turn to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to do something
about it. The Game and Wildlife Code permits us to go back the last two
years but it was disgusting to many to know that this has been ongoing.”
Marks noted that the Game and Wildlife Code places a two-year statute
of limitation on violations, which only permits WCOs to actually charge for
violations that occurred in the last two years.
“Those of us familiar with the details of the investigation know that
there were many more of the same type violations that occurred in the first
two years of the investigation,” Marks said. “However, because the
investigation was reaching out and implicating others, a decision was made
to continue the investigation and forego charging for those earlier
offenses.”
Those found guilty and penalties are:
Adam F. Baker, 38, James Creek, was found guilty on two of four counts,
and ordered to pay fines totaling $1,000.
Matthew Ronald Baker, 40, James Creek, was found guilty on 30 of 31
counts, and ordered to pay fines totaling $16,700.
Matthew R. Baker II, 18, James Creek, was found guilty on four of five
counts, and ordered to pay fines totaling $1,500.
Unnamed Youth, 16, James Creek, was found guilty on seven of seven
counts, and ordered to pay fines totaling $3,800.
Paul W. Brinton Jr., 59, Saxton, pled guilty to one count, and ordered
to pay a fine of $300.
Wilford A. Collins, 54, Huntingdon, pled guilty to six counts, and
ordered to pay fines totaling $500.
Waylon David Corbin, 18, Robertsdale, was found guilty on six of seven
counts, and ordered to pay fines totaling $4,400.
Harold R. Cunningham, 62, Newry, was found guilty of one count, and
ordered to pay a fine of $100.
John J. Miller, 54, James Creek, was found guilty on two counts, and
ordered to pay fines totaling $600.
John Kevin Miller, 25, James Creek, was found guilty on five of eight
counts, and ordered to pay fines totaling $2,200.
Russell Miller, 61, James Creek, was found guilty on two of four
counts, and ordered to pay fines totaling $1,000.
Bradley William Sheeder, 37, James Creek, was found guilty on six of
six counts, and ordered to pay fines totaling $2,375.
Unnamed Youth, 17, James Creek, was found guilty on six of six counts,
and ordered to pay fines totaling $2,400.
Carl Starner, 58, Blain, was found guilty on five of seven counts, and
ordered to pay fines totaling $1,800.
Richard Alan Steele, 55, Saxton was found guilty on one of two counts,
and ordered to pay a fine of $800.
Mark B. Taylor, 37, Saxton, was found guilty on three of three counts,
and ordered to pay fines totaling $1,075.
Robert D. Troy, 34, Saxton, was found guilty on two of two counts, and
ordered to pay fines totaling $1,600.
William J. Myers II, 34, Robertsdale and Timothy Glen Zdrosky II, 29,
Dudley, both had cases, which were continued to a later date.
“These guilty verdicts reflect a 85 percent conviction rate and speaks
to the degree of professionalism of the investigators,” Houghton said. “The
Game Commission is out there, sometimes in uniform, sometimes not,
protecting both the wildlife and interests of those Pennsylvanians who
appreciate our wildlife resource.”
In a separate but related prosecution, Walter Starliper, owner of
Starliper Meats in Mercersburg, Franklin County, pled guilty to four counts
of illegally buying and selling game, and was sentenced to pay fines
totaling $600.