DALLAS – Kenneth N. Borger, 29, of Long Pond, pleaded guilty on Feb. 14, to six counts of unlawful taking or possession of game or wildlife (all white-tailed deer); three counts of unlawful devices and methods (baiting); one count of failure to tag and report big game kills; one count of unlawful acts concerning licenses (receiving a license or tags from another); and five counts of additional penalties for various poaching offenses.
According to Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer Mark Rutkowski, Borger was assessed fines and penalties of $5,200 by District Judge Richard Claypool, of Pocono Pines, Monroe County.
On Feb. 7, Rutkowski responded to a complaint from a Long Pond resident, who found a crossbow bolt or arrow in his front yard. WCO Rutkowski surmised the arrow came from the direction of a specific property along Heller Lane.
During the investigation, Rutkowski and Deputy WCO Tad Page found a large pile of corn in the rear of suspected Heller Lane house, a dead deer, and additional crossbow bolts matching the one found in the complainant’s front yard. Finding no one home at the suspect residence, Rutkowski obtained a search warrant for the house, which is occupied currently by Jennifer Tallada and Kenneth Borger. It also was discovered that Borger, a convicted felon from New York State, currently is on parole.
Rutkowski contacted the Pocono Mountain Police Department for assistance in executing the search warrant, and the Pennsylvania State Board of Parole. While en route to execute the search warrant, Rutkowski observed a green and grey dodge pickup truck exiting Heller Lane that matched the de scri ption of Borger’s vehicle.
“We immediately stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Kenneth Borger, along with passenger Jennifer Tallada,” Rutkowski said. “Inside the cab of the pickup, we noticed arrows sticking up behind the driver’s seat. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed a crossbow, a compound bow and other evidence concealed in plastic bags on the floor of the truck.”
Because Borger is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess any sporting arm or weapon of any kind, he was immediately taken into custody and transported to Pocono Mt. Regional Police headquarters with his parole agent. Borger was charged with tampering with evidence and transported to the Monroe County Correctional facility awaiting arraignment.
An ensuing search of the residence uncovered evidence of game law violations, and Rutkowski reported there is a possibility one or more persons may be involved with helping Borger hide evidence, or assisting him in the unlawful acts against wildlife.