Eighteen people have been cited over a two-day period with a series of state Game Commission violations over two days in Triumph Township.

According to online court docket information, state game wardens wrote 28 violations on July 18-19, all in Triumph Township. Five of those violations were for resisting or interfering with an officer. Those cited are Dominick A. Kinney, 20, of Titusville, Pa., Jeremiah J. Snyder, 21, of Grove City, Pa., Jack S. Hadley, 19, of Oil City, Pa., Teagan E. Hargenrater, 18, of Townville, Pa., and Owen Campbell, 18, of Grove City, Pa.

In Pennsylvania, resisting or interfering with a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer can lead to summary offenses, with potential penalties including fines and jail time. Specifically, Section 904 of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes makes it unlawful to interfere with or resist an officer engaged in their duties. A summary offense of the first degree is the most severe penalty for this type of violation. Fines for summary offenses range from $25 (summary offense of the eighth degree) to not less than $1,000 and up to $1,500 for a summary offense of the first degree, with potential jail time up to 90 days for a first-degree offense. Beyond fines and potential jail time, violating the Game and Wildlife Code can also lead to revocation of hunting or trapping privileges in the state.

All five of the local citations are first-degree summary offenses.

Most of the citations in Triumph Township on July 18-19 were for control of property. Kinney, Snyder, Faith A. Hovan, 18, of Warren, Josiah G. Cannon, 21, of Cambridge Springs, Pa., Makenna Deitz, 18, of Centerville, Pa., Madison R. Donor, 18, of Meadville, Pa., Campbell, Manny A. Perez, 20, of Titusville, Pa., Vance C. Jones, 19, of Cambridge Springs, Pa., Robert S. Hovan, 20, of Warren, Kamdyn N. Apthorp, 18, of Pleasantville, Pa., Hadley, Waylon E. Jackson, 19, of Columbus, Pa., Gavin B. Mangel, 20, of Titusville, Pa., Bryce J. Chavis, 19, of Tidioute, Pa., Hargenrater, Aubrey L. Peterson, 19, of Titusville, and Kyle T. Weis, 18, of Centerville, Pa., were all cited for fifth-degree control of property.

In Pennsylvania, the Game Commission has specific regulations regarding control of property, particularly regarding state game lands. State Game Lands 309 includes 992 acres in Triumph Township. While the commission has the authority to manage these lands, including implementing regulations for their use and protection, landowners retain certain rights and the ability to restrict access to their property.

Someone may be cited with a violation related to “Control of Property Regulations” if they engage in activities that violate the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s regulations governing the use and protection of lands or waters under its control. That doesn’t always mean illegal hunting or fishing. Control of property violations can also involve unauthorized farming, logging or timber cutting, damaging property on state game lands, removing materials that include rocks, minerals, sand and historical or archeological artifacts, disorderly conduct or traveling on land by motorized vehicle.

Chavis, Mangel, Deitz and Kinney were all also cited with purchase of alcoholic beverages by a minor. The statute includes in the citation consumption or possession of alcohol by those under the age of 21. Fines can be up to $500 for a first violation.