Several Men Facing Charges In Alleged Deer Poaching Operation
MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- Several men are facing charges in Westmoreland County, accused of poaching deer.
It was on a road in Mount Pleasant Township that game officials say they got their first tip that illegal poaching was allegedly happening. It came from a call from a nearby homeowner.
Brenauer Road is a back road with a little strip of black top, but it's where state Game Commission officials say 19-year-old Charles Harr Jr. got caught allegedly poaching for whitetail from his truck.
"In the vehicle was a loaded firearm next to him, as well as a freshly-killed deer," said Officer Brian Singer, of the Game Commission.
It wouldn't take long for Harr to tell Game Commission officers and state police troopers that he wasn't alone in the alleged operation.
"He actually indicated he had some help that day," said Singer.
Ben Daniels, 18, and Travis Kolick, 23, of Unity Township, are also accused in the incident.
"There were two other individuals apprehended later that evening in possession of some more deer that had been killed unlawfully that night," Singer said.
Game officials say the alleged illegal hunting operation also involved 45-year-old Charles Harr Sr., of Derry Township.
"The father, we believe, was in the process of helping his son dispose of or butcher these deer," said Singer.
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From October to December of 2015, Game Commission officials say the four "jacklighted," or spotted deer in Derry, Unity and Mount Pleasant townships.
"Throughout the course of the investigation, we discovered 11 deer were taken unlawfully," Singer said.
All face summery charges and hefty fines. And Singer says they all also face "possible jail time and loss of their hunting license for a long, long period."
