West Virginia Conservation Officers from District IV made several high profile arrests during the 2005 Big Game Hunting Season, according to Col. James Fields, Chief of the WV Division of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Section.
In December, Conservation Officers D.W. Green and C.J. Lester arrested Eddie Gibson, II, of War, WV charging him with 20 counts of game law violations. Six of the 18 deer confiscated during this arrest were of 13 5+ class Pope and Young bucks. Mr. Gibson is awaiting trial.
In December, Conservation Officer N.G. Frangos of Greenbrier County received a complaint regarding illegal bear kills involving a female bear and her two cubs, with the suspects hunting without permission on private property. Officer Frangos, along with Officer F.C. Basile and Sgt. M.A. Sylvester, investigated the complaint, finding that several violations had occurred. Samuel George of White Sulphur Springs, WV, was cited for improper checking of bear; James Hall of Covington, VA, was cited for killing a bear accompanied by a cub bear, two counts of killing a bear weighing less than 100 pounds, non-resident hunting without a license and hunting without a bear stamp; Justin Boone of Covington, VA, was cited for non-resident hunting without a license and hunting without a bear stamp; William Miller of Hot Springs, VA, was cited for non-resident hunting without a license and hunting without a bear stamp. With the assistance of the sportsmen, local citizens of Greenbrier County and the Virginia Game Wardens, the WV DNR Law Enforcement Section was successful in prosecuting the suspects. The fines and costs issued by Greenbrier County Magistrate Court totaled $10,061.50 with the loss of hunting privileges for two-years.
In November, Officer B.L. Cales of Summers County and Officer A.S. Damewood of Mercer County were notified by the Ohio DNR regarding an ongoing investigation in reference to illegal deer kills and that the Illegal game had been brought to WV. The investigation was initiated because the suspects were caught spotlighting in Ohio. A comprehensive investigation ensued and resulted in the recovery of 11 illegal buck racks and the subjects being charged for illegal possession of game in WV. Investigation continues in Ohio and several more suspects are being investigated with charges pending.
In November, Officer C.J. Lester of McDowell County was patrolling in the Keystone/ North Fork area and noticed a truck with a bear in the bed. Officer Lester stopped to offer to check the bear. While the officer was talking to the individual he noticed items in the bed that made him suspicious of illegal baiting activity. Upon further investigation, Officer Lester obtained evidence that the bear had been illegally killed over bait and that the suspect was a non-resident and had made false application for a WV hunting license. The subject was charged and convicted for the above violations. The fines and cost, as well as the tow bill for the ATV, tallied up to $3,000.