TWELVE GUILTY OF ILLEGAL DEER IN ELK COUNTY

JERSEY SHORE, Lycoming County – Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that 12 individuals recently were found guilty or pled guilty to illegally killing or possessing eight deer in Elk County. The charges were heard by District Judge George A. King, of Johnsonburg, Elk County. On Dec. 9, the investigation began when Elk County Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Richard Bodenhorn encountered two hunters from New England hiding in the woods with two untagged antlerless deer. The hunters also did not have valid antlerless license for these deer. An investigation led to a camp in Hallton, Elk County, where 10 other hunters were discovered with three more illegal deer at the camp, and, ultimately, three additional illegal deer in a walk-in cooler in Ridgway. Evidence and admissions indicate that all of the deer had been killed in Elk County in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 2F, by various members of the hunting party while none of them had valid antlerless deer licenses for that WMU. Two of the dead deer were adult bucks with the antlers broken off.Philip R. Poirier II, of East Corinth, Vermont, and Shaun J. O’Keefe, of Lyme, New Hampshire, were both found guilty of three counts and ordered to pay fines and cost of $1,272. Philip R. Poirier Sr. and David A. Boyce, both of Wells River, Vermont, and David A. Poisson, of Claremont, New Hampshire, were each found guilty of two counts and ordered to pay fines and cost of $962. Five other men were all found guilty of one count and ordered to pay fines and costs of $452. These men are: Richard H. Johnson, of Ridgway, Pennsylvania; Mark I. Smith, of White River Junction, Vermont; Andrew C. Carter, of West Lebanon, New Hampshire; Michael P. Friend, of Claremont, New Hampshire; and Zachary R. Kosakowski, of South Ryegate, Vermont.One man, David H. Chase of Claremont, New Hampshire, previously pled guilty to one count and paid a fine and costs of $352. A 16-year-old juvenile, of East Corinth, Vermont, was found not guilty in the court proceedings. Each of those convicted, or having pled guilty, also face revocation of their Pennsylvania hunting and trapping privileges.WCO Bodenhorn was assisted by Cameron County WCO Wayne Hunt, Jefferson County WCO Roger Hartless, Clarion/Jefferson Counties Land Management Group Supervisor George Miller, and Elk County Deputy WCOs Ron Beeler and Andy Brigger.