Five suspects pleaded guilty in Lincoln County Superior Court, Oct. 1 to crimes relating to an illegal hunting operation. A sixth person, also charged as part of the case, was convicted earlier.
In March, investigators said they had been tracking a group that may have killed up to 50 deer illegally in the last three years.
According to Maine Warden Service spokesman Cpl. John MacDonald, an undercover warden saw the suspects shoot deer at night from the windows of a vehicle. “Their typical activity was to shoot deer on lawns, in front of people’s homes, under apple trees and around shrubs,” MacDonald said. The lawns in question did not belong to the suspects, he said.
Richard L. Potter, 29, or Jefferson was indicted for 49 criminal counts relating to the operation and pleaded guilty to five counts of night hunting, two counts each of violating a suspended or revoked license and hunting or possessing a deer during closed season, and one count each of having a loaded firearm or crossbow in motor vehicle, discharging a firearm or crossbow near a dwelling, driving deer and hunting deer after having killed one. All the above charges are misdemeanors.
The remaining charges against Potter, including guiding without a license, driving moose and using artificial light to illuminate wild animals, were dismissed.
The arrests came after Potter met with an undercover investigator and invited him to go hunting.
“Potter told (the investigator) that he had to be careful for a year because his hunting and guide licenses were currently revoked,” a report in Potter’s court file states. “Potter made derogatory comments about Game Wardens and told (the investigator) he was revoked because of being told on. Potter told (the investigator) that the next time he would not be as stupid and not get caught.”
As part of a plea agreement, Potter must abide by the terms of a one-year order deferring disposition. He must complete 250 hours of community service and must not hunt or use or possess weapons. He will be subject to random search to enforce the latter condition.
If Potter abides by the terms of the agreement, he will be sentenced to 364 days in jail with all but 60 days suspended, to be followed by one year of administrative release. He must pay $15,000 in fines.
Monique Moore, 21, of Jefferson faced 30 criminal counts, including 11 for night hunting.
Moore pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of night hunting, one count each of fraudulently obtaining a license or permit, hunting without a valid license, hunting or possessing a deer during closed season, having a loaded firearm or crossbow in a motor vehicle, discharging a firearm or crossbow near a dwelling and exceeding the bag limit on deer.
Remaining charges, including fraudulently obtained a hunting license and using artificial light to illuminate wild animals, were dismissed.
Moore must complete 250 hours of community service and not hunt or use or possess weapons for one year. At the end of one year, she would be sentenced to 180 days in jail with all but 30 days suspended, followed by one year of administrative release. She must pay $9000 in fines.
Dispositional hearings for Potter and Moore are scheduled for Sept. 26, 2013 at 1 p.m.
Joshua L. Shanholtzer, 29, of Jefferson pleaded guilty to four counts of night hunting and one count each of hunting or possessing a deer in closed season, using artificial light to illuminate wild animals, and possessing an antlerless deer. There were no other charges against Shanholtzer.
As part of his plea agreement, Shanholtzer must abide by the terms of a one-year order deferring disposition. If he does not violate the terms of the order, the state will dismiss some of the counts. Shanholtzer must pay a $2000 fine.
Nathan T. Lee, 35, of Whitefield was charged with two counts of driving deer. He pleaded guilty to one count and the state dismissed the other charge. Lee will have to pay a $400 fine.
Brian Cleveland Curtis, 39, of Palermo faced criminal charges of assisting a client in a criminal violation and civil charges of violating his license as a Maine Guide, for failure to report the violation. Curtis admitted to the civil charges and the state dismissed the criminal count. He will have to pay a $400 fine.
The court did not address whether any of the above-named defendants would face suspensions or revocations of their hunting licenses or if Potter or Curtis might lose their Maine Guide licenses.
On Aug. 23, Jonathan W. Vorhis, 29, of Cushing pleaded guilty to charges of the Class D misdemeanor of unsworn falsification and Class E misdemeanors of possessing an unregistered deer and driving deer. The charge of hunting deer after having killed one was dismissed.