March 31, 2012
From WANE.com
GOSHEN, Ind. (WANE) -- Two brothers and their cousin face state
and federal charges for trapping and shooting federally prote cted
raptors, including a Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed hawks and Coopers
Hawks.
Numerous charges against Christopher Simmons, 41, and
his brother, Ronald Simmons, 46, and their cousin, Mark Roberts, 41,
have been sent to the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office for review,
Jackson said. Formal charges would be filed by the prosecutor. The
men are not in custody, Jackson said.
The raptors were
caught in a pole trap and then shot, according to an IDNR news
release. A pole trap is placed on a perch and is designed to trap
birds of prey. The traps would instantly break the hollow bones of
raptors legs and the birds would be stuck there until they were
shot.
A total of 12 raptors, 13 whitetail deer head and 177
pounds of processed deer meat were seized from Christopher Simmons’
property, according to a IDNR news release. Conservation officers
also seized two pole traps, three rifles, two shotguns and one
handgun.
Christopher Simmons faces preliminary charges of
illegal taking/possession of whitetail deer (one count); illegal
taking/possession of federally protected species (11 counts); deer
check station violation (one count); trapping with illegal device
(one count); and illegal possession of a raccoon without a permit
(one count).
Ronald Simmons faces preliminary charges of
illegal taking/possession of whitetail deer (three counts); illegal
taking/possession of federally protected species (seven counts); and
deer check station violation (two counts).
Mark Roberts
faces a preliminary charge of deer check station violation.
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