DEFIANCE COUNTY POACHERS SENTENCED IN WILDLIFE CASE
FINDLAY, OH – The cases of seven Defiance County poachers charged with 56 wildlife violations has drawn to a conclusion. The subjects were sentenced on April 10, 2008 in the Defiance Municipal Court. The Honorable Judge John Rohrs III sentenced the subjects to a combined total of over $17,000 in fines, court costs and restitution. Hunting privileges were also suspended for a combined total of 33 years, according to Defiance City Law Director, David Lands.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife was made aware of the violations through an anonymous phone call and, as a result, a lengthy investigation began. Deer was the species of choice for this group, but other animals were also unlawfully killed if the opportunity presented itself, according to District Two Wildlife Investigator Mark Weihrauch. Their illegal activities took place primarily in Northern Defiance County with most of the deer shot at night with a rifle and spotlight. Meat from the illegally taken deer was made into jerky and sold, according Weihrauch.
On October 28, 2007, District Two Wildlife Officers and Investigators served a search warrant and conducted several interviews. Over 60 items were seized as a result of the interviews and the search warrant. Some of the items seized included an ATV and trailer, several firearms, several mounted deer heads, a mounted black bear, a mounted fox, numerous untagged deer parts, several packages of deer and turkey meat, a spotlight and miscellaneous deer processing equipment. The majority of these items were forfeited to the Division of Wildlife during sentencing. A break down of their individual sentencing is as follows:
Israel S. Miller, 30, of Defiance was found guilty on 32 charges and paid a total of $10,000 in fines, court costs and restitution. He was sentenced to 1,590 days in jail with all suspended on the condition of no similar offenses for 5 years. He also lost his hunting privileges for 9 years.
William G. Shook, 29, of Defiance was found guilty on nine charges and paid a total of $2,890 in fines, court costs and restitution. He was sentenced to 480 days in jail with all suspended on the condition of no similar offenses for 5 years. He also lost his hunting rights for 9 years.
Nathan D. Schindler, 30, of Bryan was found guilty on 7 charges and paid a total $2,590 in fines, court costs and restitution. He was sentenced to 420 days of jail with all suspended on the condition of no similar offenses for 5 years. He also lost his hunting rights for 9 years.
Chris Schindler, 28, of Bryan was found guilty on 2 charges and paid at total of $514 in fines, court costs and restitution. She was sentenced to 120 days of jail with all suspended on the condition of no similar offenses for 3 years. She also lost her hunting rights for 3 years.
John M. Coressel, 25, of Defiance was found guilty on 3 charges and paid a total of $768 in fines, court costs and restitution. He was sentenced to 180 days of jail with all suspended on the condition of no similar offenses for 3 years. He also lost his hunting rights for 3 years.
Rolland Hahn, 54, of Bryan was found guilty on one charge and paid $140 in fines and court costs.
Lynn D. Miller, 31, of Defiance had her charges dismissed as part of a plea agreement.