Tag: Crime

Oregon seeks public’s help after killing of bald eagle

Authorities in Oregon are asking the public for help identifying the person or persons responsible for killing a state-protected bald eagle.

Authorities in Oregon are asking the public for help identifying the person or persons responsible for killing a state-protected bald eagle.

The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division issued a news release Tuesday explaining that the bald eagle carcass was discovered by a citizen Nov. 30 in Cox Butte west of Junction City.

“Bald Eagles and other raptors are protected in Oregon,” OSP Fish & Wildlife stated. “They commonly inhabit the Willamette Valley and are an important part of the wildlife ecosystem. It is illegal to harass, injure or kill a Bald Eagle.”

The agency is asking citizens to call its tip line at 1-800-452-7888, or to reach out via text or email if they possess information related to the investigation.

Penalties for killing a bald eagle in Oregon include a maximum fine of $6,500 and up to a year in jail, plus an additional $5,000 in damages.

–Bald eagle image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Florida deer, alligator poaching case described as ‘shocking’

Wildlife officials in Florida have charged four people with multiple poaching-related violations after social media posts turned up “shocking” evidence against the suspects.

Wildlife officials in Florida have charged four people with multiple poaching-related violations after social media posts turned up “shocking” evidence against the suspects.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Thursday that its officers obtained warrants for the suspects’ social media accounts and discovered images and videos showing illegally harvested deer and alligators from Nov. 2020 through September 2021.

The evidence helped officers determine dates and locations of the suspected poaching activities. The suspects booked into the Dixie County Jail.

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“The scope of the illegal activity is shocking and shows complete disregard for our shared natural resources,” stated Maj. Scott Lee, commander of the FWC’s North Central Region. “I appreciate the dedication of our officers for their diligence with this case in bringing these individuals to justice.”

The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit.

The FWC listed the suspects’ names and the charges they face:

Jerrell Austin Clyatt Everett (DOB:08/07/2001) of Old Town, Florida:

–Five counts possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1).
–Six counts possession of antlerless deer 379.404(3).
–Three counts of taking/possession of alligator 379.409(1).
–One count of taking deer by illegal method 68A-12.002(3)(b)2.

Kasen David Brown (DOB: 09/26/2002) of Cross City, Florida:

–Four counts of possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1).
–Two counts of taking/possession of alligator 379.409(1).

Kayla Mckenzie Kline (DOB: 07/07/2003) of Old Town, Florida:

–Three counts possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1).

Keaton Aaron Brown (DOB: 07/22/2002) of Old Town, Florida:

–Three counts possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1).

–Two counts possession of antlerless deer 379.404(3).

–One count of shooting deer from roadway/right of way 68A-4.008.

–One count take deer by illegal method 68A-12.002(3)(b)2.

–One count taking deer after hours 68A-12.002(2).

–Two counts discharging firearm from roadway/right of way 790.15(1).

–One count of discharging firearm from vehicle within 1,000 feet of another person 790.15(2).

Ex-NFL star Kellen Winslow II sentenced to 14 years for rape and sex crimes against women

Former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow II faced final judgment in court and was rebuked by the judge and women he violated.

Former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow II faced final judgment in court and was rebuked by the judge and women he violated.

Suspected abalone poachers caught after pursuit on jetty

Two men were apprehended and cited for the unlawful take and possession of abalone last Saturday after a pursuit on a Southern California jetty.

Two men were apprehended and cited for the unlawful take and possession of abalone last Saturday after a brief pursuit on a Southern California jetty.

A California Department of Fish and Wildlife officer and Long Beach Police Department officer, on joint nighttime patrol, became suspicious when they spotted silhouettes of the men on a Long Beach Harbor jetty.

The CDFW officer was dropped from a boat onto the jetty and approached the men, who began to run, according to an agency news release issued Thursday.

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With the help of a police air unit, the unidentified men were found hiding in the rocks and in possession of 16 green and pink abalone. The Los Angeles Port Police also assisted in the effort.

“This is a perfect example of  mutual aid cooperation allowing us to create a force multiplier in order to protect our precious resources,” said David Bess, CDFW Deputy Director and Chief of the Law Enforcement Division. “This joint patrol effort allowed us to apprehend these suspected poachers who were targeting abalone, a protected species south of the Golden Gate for more than 23 years.”

Abalone have been protected south of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge since 1997, after a near collapse of the population. A statewide ban was imposed in 2017 because of the continued decline of red abalone “mostly due to environmental stressors,” the CDFW stated.

The men were cited for 16 counts related to the unlawful take of protected wildlife. The abalone, still alive and deemed “survivable,” were placed back into the ocean.

–Image showing the seized abalone is courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Report: St. Paul resident faces charges for running Vikings/Packers tickets scam

The St. Paul woman is being charged with theft by swindle and false representation for the scam.

A St. Paul woman faces charges for running a scam in which she would sell people football tickets she didn’t actually have, according to a report.

City Pages reported that Allie Heutmaker — who used to live in River Falls, Wisconsin — allegedly messaged people on Facebook, and upon receiving her money, usually a Venmo request or Facebook Pay, she would not send over the agreed-upon ticket or tickets.

“In total, [Heutmaker] swindled those individuals in excess of $3,000,” said a complaint obtained by City Pages.

Heutmaker admitted to police that there were never any actual tickets, per the complaint obtained by City Pages.

She allegedly tricked people into thinking she had Vikings tickets or Packers tickets. She will make her court appearance in Wisconsin come April, and make one in Minnesota in early June.

City Pages reported that many people who Heutmaker scammed don’t think they will ever get their money back.

Deer hunter arrested after family’s pet horse is shot

An arrest has been made in the case involving a Virginia deer hunter suspected of shooting a family’s pet horse.

An arrest has been made in the case involving a Virginia deer hunter suspected of shooting a family’s pet horse.

Jeffrey Mayo, of Mineral, was charged with reckless handling of a firearm and discharging a firearm within 100 yards of an occupied dwelling, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

“It was determined through the investigation that the suspect was hunting and had fired three shots at a deer while it was running,” the agency stated in a news release.

ABC 8 News reports that the 24-year-old quarter horse, named Penny, suffered wounds to her chest and lung during the Nov. 27 incident in Ashland.

Alexander Gaudino, Penny’s caretaker, said that after seeing the horse bleeding from her side he initially thought she had been injured by barbed wire. “We walked over there and she wouldn’t move; we were in complete shock,” Gaudino said.

A GoFundMe page was created two days later, with Kim Boyd Gaudino writing, “Our family pet of 20 years was shot in the yard the night before Thanksgiving. We are asking for help with medical expenses.”

On Nov. 30 the post was updated to reveal that Penny was “fighting to live” but the next day Penny was said to be “doing amazing well.”

Penny, who received care from the family’s veterinarian, has since recovered.

The investigation was conducted in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

–Images showing Penny during her recovery are courtesy of the Gaudino family

Police have recovered two Red Sox World Series rings stolen from Terry Francona

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced that they had recovered the two rings, which were reported stolen in November.

Two World Series rings belonging to former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona have been recovered, according to the Sherriff’s Department in Pima County, Arizona.

The rings were reported stolen back in November, and were recovered when they were purchased from a local memorabilia store. This is hilarious, that this guy stole two World Series rings and then successfully hawked them to the local store. How did they think he got the 2004 and 2007 World Series rings?

From ESPN:

Jamey Estep, 33, has been arrested and charged with second-degree burglary, theft and trafficking in stolen property, which are felonies, according to the department.

Francona, now the manager of the Cleveland Indians, managed the Red Sox from 2004 to 2011, winning those two Series titles.

Shoutout Jamey Estep. You almost got away with the crime of the century, right up until you didn’t.

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