Two Venango County men, David E. Alcorn, age 22, of Franklin, and Cody A. Manners, age 20, of Oil City, are the first individuals to be charged in the Northwest Region under the new anti-poaching penalties, which took affect on Sept. 7, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission officials.
Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Mark Allegro and Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officers (DWCO) Gail Bean, Keith Oney, and Larry Haylett, were working the Dempseytown Gresham Road area of Cherrytree Township, Venango County, on Sept. 22, in response to reports of jacklighting in the area. A spotlight was observed at 1:00 a.m., and a vehicle stop was initiated and a loaded .22 rifle was discovered in the vehicle. The subsequent investigation resulted in charges being filed for violations that occurred on Sept. 22, and for a deer that was unlawfully killed in the same area on Sept. 20.
WCO Allegro filed the following charges before District Judge Andrew Fish:
David E. Alcorn: one count of unlawful killing or taking big game, which is a first degree summary; two counts of unlawful use of lights while hunting, which are fifth degree summaries; two counts of recreational spotlighting violations, which are fifth degree summaries; one count of unlawfully having loaded firearms in a vehicle, which is a fourth degree summary; and one count of unlawfully having loaded firearms in a vehicle, which is a fifth degree summary. If convicted on all charges, penalties could range up to $2,800 in fines and three months in jail, plus an $800 replacement cost for the deer.
Cody A. Manners: one count of unlawful killing or taking big game, which is a first degree summary; two counts of unlawful use of lights while hunting, which are fifth degree summaries; two counts of recreational spotlighting violations, which are fifth degree summaries; and one count of unlawfully having loaded firearms in a vehicle, which is a fourth degree summary. If convicted on all charges, penalties could range up to $2,600 in fines and three months in jail, plus an $800 replacement cost for the deer.
"These are serious crimes involving our wildlife resources," said Northwest Region Director Keith Harbaugh. "The new penalty structure reflects this and provides for stiffer penalties for repeat offenders. We hope these enhanced penalties will cause would be violators to think twice before targeting Pennsylvania's wildlife."