KANE — Two Mount Jewett men are facing 30 counts each relating to shooting 5 white-tailed deer out of season last year.
Charles Yocum Jr., 22, of 145 W. Main St., and Dylan Sprester, 19, of 8 Peterson St., are both charged with five counts each of unlawfully killing big game out of season and unlawful use of an artificial light, third-degree felonies; and five counts each of the following summary offenses: using a motor vehicle to hunt, spotlighting for deer after 11 p.m., shooting on or across a highway and having a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
According to the criminal complaints, between Oct. 5 and Nov. 21, 2019, Yocum and Sprester shot 5 antlered deer at night, out of a vehicle, while using a spotlight. The illegal hunting came to light when a witness reported to the Game Commission that Yocum had three antlered deer heads in the back of his truck, two of which appeared to be freshly killed.
The charges were filed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission on Nov. 23, 2020.
Both men were arraigned before District Judge David Engman and released on $10,000 unsecured bail. Preliminary hearings for both are scheduled for Dec. 10.
