Poachers Pay $7794.00 for Illegally Taking One Deer

Two Seneca County men were sentenced in July for the illegal taking of a deer in the 2009 deer hunting season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Restitution of $4625 was ordered paid by Judge Mark Repp of the Tiffin Municipal Court. The revised restitution law went into effect March 2008 and allows the ODNR Division of Wildlife to seek an increased recovery value on all illegally harvested wildlife.

Tyler J. Nye, 22, and Derek M. Depinet, 20, of Republic, Ohio pled no contest in the Tiffin Municipal Court. Nye was charged with aiding another in jacklighting, failure to immediately attach a temporary tag, provide false information to a check station, use a falsified temporary deer tag, hunting before/after hours, hunt deer with an unlawful firearm, hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, shooting from a roadway, and from the Seneca County Sheriff's Office receiving stolen property (for stolen Wildlife Area signs). Depinet was charged with jacklighting, possession of an untagged deer, aiding another in the hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, and aiding another in shooting from the roadway. Nye paid $1656 in fines and court costs, was sentenced to 60 days in jail with 40 days suspended (20 days jail served), lifetime revocation of his hunting rights, and restitution of $4625 for the deer. Depinet paid $1513 in fines and court costs, was sentenced to 30 days in jail with 30 days suspended, and a 2 year revocation of his hunting rights. A deer head and a New England Firearms .22-250 rifle with scope were forfeited to the state.

Many investigations and surveillance operations are the result of concerned citizen reports and calls to the Turn-In-a-Poacher hotline. Callers can leave information on the TIP line 24 hours a day and the information may be left anonymously. To report a wildlife violation, call 1-800-POACHER, a county wildlife officer or submit information online at wildohio.com.

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