CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man has been sentenced for unlawfully killing a bull elk, according to Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr.
Shaw identified the defendant as Timothy Lee Gormont Jr., 18, of Mill Road, Clearfield. On Aug. 13, Wildlife Conservation Officer Mark Gritzer of the Pennsylvania Game Commission filed a criminal complaint, charging Gormont with unlawful killing or taking of big game.
According to the criminal complaint, on July 16, District 9 Forestry Rangers received information about a dead bull elk on McGeorge Road in Lawrence Township, Clearfield County. The state Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) Rangers responded to the location and confirmed the report.
Gritzer also responded to the scene in order to determine the cause of death. Gritzer determined that the elk had been shot in the left, front shoulder. Upon investigation it was determined that Gormont had unlawfully shot and killed the bull elk with a Mosin-Nagant 7.62-caliber rifle on July 15 and had left the elk lay where it been shot.
Regional Wildlife Management Supervisor Anthony Ross officially measured the antlers to determine the elk’s Boone and Crockett score. The antlers for the unlawfully killed elk resulted in a gross green score of 300 points and a net score of 289-5/8 points.
On Sept. 18 Gormont tendered a guilty plea to the charge. Magisterial District Judge Richard Ireland sentenced Gormont to a one-year period of probation, and he was assessed a fine of $5,000 for trophy elk replacement. Gormont was also fined $500 to compensate the state for a witness reward, which is provided to witnesses for tips regarding Game Code violations.
After Gormont was sentenced, Shaw said that he was pleased with Ireland’s sentence and the fines that were imposed. The unlawful killing of wildlife, he stated, will not be tolerated and is akin to stealing from the commonwealth.
Shaw also stated that the fines assessed encourage community members to report Game Code violations, which will lead to the prosecution and prevention of unlawful killing of wildlife. Shaw thanked the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the DCNR for their investigation and assistance in this case.
Anyone with knowledge of a crime is asked to call Clearfield County Crime Stoppers at 800-376-4700. All calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by visiting the Clearfield County District Attorney Web site at “www.ClearfieldDA.org” and selecting “Report A Crime.”