Natural Resources Police Handle Deer and Striped Bass Poaching Cases

Deer and striped bass poaching cases were among the incidents handled over the weekend by Maryland Natural Resources Police officers.

A Carroll County man was arrested last Friday morning and charged with illegally killing two white-tailed bucks.

Allen Wayne Stephan, 33, of Westminster, was issued two citations for hunting in a closed season and seven written warnings for failing to field tag and record his kills, as required by state law.

An officer on patrol on Old Bachman Road in Westminster noticed a pick-up truck with two deer carcasses in it. When questioned, Stephan said he and his father each killed a deer with bow and arrow.

But as he examined the deer, the officer noticed the wounds looked like they were made by bullets. Stephan then told the officer that he shot both deer with a rifle, which was in his truck.

The officer seized the rifle and both deer, which were donated to the charity, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry.

A date has not been set in Carroll County District Court.

Officers working surveillance in Dorchester County over the weekend charged eight Montgomery County men with poaching striped bass.

Three men were caught shortly before 4 a.m. Friday near Ferry Bridge on Hooper Island with 36 striped bass, 31 of which were undersized.

Juan C. Ardon Gonzalez, 44, Melvin Omar Guzman, 45, and Juan Francisco Cruz-Hernandez, 33, all of Gaithersburg, were charged with catching over the recreational limit of two fish, keeping undersized striped bass, catching fish outside legal hours and keeping an undersized sea trout.

All three men must appear in Dorchester County District Court Nov. 11. If found guilty, each man faces a maximum fine of $5,500.

On Saturday just after midnight, officers caught three men in the same area who had 23 striped bass, 22 of which were undersized.

Julio Cesar Najera Maldonado, 32, and Melvin Gerardo Maldonado, 36, both of Silver Spring, and Roberto Carlos Rivera Sibrian, 38, of Gaithersburg, were each charged with catching over the recreational limit of two fish and keeping undersized striped bass.

They are scheduled to appear in Dorchester County District Court Dec. 21. If found guilty of all charges, they each face a maximum fine of $3,500.

Finally Sunday before dawn, officers caught two men at Fishing Creek Bridge with 16 striped bass, 14 of which were undersized.

Manuel DeJesus Cruz, 48, and Pablo Anto Saravia Sagastizado, 29, both of Silver Spring, received citations for catching over the recreational limit of two fish, keeping undersized striped bass and catching fish outside legal hours.

Both men are scheduled to appear in Dorchester County District Court Dec. 21. If found guilty of all charges, they each face a maximum fine of $3,000.