MD: Western Maryland Poacher Loses Guns, Hunting Privilege

April 7, 2010

Western Md. Poacher Loses Guns, Hunting Privilege

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) A Cumberland man has agreed to give up his guns and five years of hunting privileges to settle poaching charges.

Fifty-four-year-old Dennis Bittinger pleaded guilty Tuesday in Allegany County District Court to one count each of possessing an assault pistol, falsifying a public record and exceeding the white-tailed deer bag limit. Prosecutors dropped 19 other charges

Bittinger was placed on three years of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay a total of $2,400 in fines and restitution for illegally killing five deer, 40 trout and a wild turkey.

He forfeited the two rifles and two handguns used in the crimes. Twenty-four other weapons were transferred to relatives because Bittinger's domestic violence conviction in West Virginia precludes him from owning guns.

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