Natural Resources Police Apprehend Deer Poachers

Deer poaching dominated recent cases handled by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.

A Kent County man was charged Monday with 21 poaching violations in two counties that could result in total fines up to $31,500.

Joseph Michael Switalski, 34, of Rock Hall, was charged with multiple counts of failing to report and record the harvesting of three deer: a six-point buck and a doe in Kent County, and an eight-point buck in Cecil County.

He also was charged with hunting on private land without written permission, failing to obtain a Bonus Antlered Stamp, exceeding the bag limit for antlered deer during bow season, butchering deer before check-in and failing to harvest two antlerless deer before harvesting an additional antlered deer in Region B.

Officers checking hunters on a farm in Kent County Dec. 8 encountered Switalski, who told police that he killed a buck with a bow in Cecil County and the doe in Kent County. In a subsequent interview, he told officers that he killed a second buck in Kent County. Records indicated he had not reported those kills.

Switalski is scheduled to appear in Cecil County District Court Feb. 22 and in Kent County District Court Feb. 27. If he pleads guilty to all charges, he faces a total fine of $7,000. If he decides to contest the charges during a trial, he faces a maximum fine of $31,500.

A joint investigation with the Maryland State Police Gun Enforcement Unit resulted in the arrest of an Allegany County man on poaching charges, with weapons charges pending. Another man was charged with seven violations in the same case.

Calvin Jacob Kniseley, 22, and Zachary Eugene Siebert, 20, both of Oldtown, received citations for two counts each of hunting deer at night, hunting on private land without written permission and hunting within a safety zone. Each man received a single citation for failing to make a reasonable effort to recover a dead or wounded deer.

The two-week investigation found that Kniseley and Siebert shot at deer on the night of Dec. 5 behind a private home. Kniseley shot at the first deer while Siebert held a light. When they could not find the deer, they shot at a second deer. An officer found a dead buck in the area of the shooting.

The officer’s investigation revealed that Kniseley was prohibited from having any firearms after an assault conviction. The information was given to State Police, who searched Kniseley’s home and recovered five guns.

Both defendants are scheduled to appear Feb. 21 in Allegany County District Court on the Natural Resources charges. If found guilty of all seven charges, each man could be fined $3,250. State Police will charge Kniseley in the weapons case.

An Allegany County man was charged Dec. 10 with poaching and with possessing a firearm after being prohibited by a judge from doing so.

The harvest record of Keith Alan Broadwater, 38, of Luke, showed he killed a five-point buck in Washington County in November and an eight-point buck in Allegany County in December, both with a muzzleloader. Records show he had not purchased a Bonus Antlered Stamp.

During the investigation, officers found that he was prohibited from possessing firearms and muzzleloaders as the result of a drug conviction in Allegany County. Broadwater’s 0.50-calber muzzleloader was seized.

A Feb. 21 hearing date has been set in Allegany County District Court. If found guilty of exceeding the bag limit, Broadwater could be fined up to $500. A judge will determine the sentence on the firearms charge.

A Montgomery County man was charged with poaching Dec. 10 after he killed a deer on county property.

Mark Douglas Johnson, 58, of Olney received citations for using a rifle to hunt deer in an area restricted to shotgun only, hunting without written permission from the landowner and failing to wear fluorescent orange. His rifle with noise suppressor and scope, flashlight and rifle bag were seized as evidence.

Montgomery County Police contacted Natural Resources Police after seeing Johnson hunting on county land near Reddy Branch Stream Valley Park.

Johnson is scheduled to appear in Montgomery County District Court Feb. 14. If he pleads guilty before that date, he would face a fine of $950. If he contests the charges in court and is found guilty, he could be fined as much as $4,500.

Officers patrolling the Choptank River before sunrise Dec. 12 stopped a vessel operating without any navigational lights and found evidence of illegal oyster harvesting.

Todd Hamilton Ruark, 35, of Cambridge, told officers he had been power dredging before legal hours that morning. Officers returned the oysters to state waters.

Ruark was charged with illegal harvesting, possession of oysters and with operating without navigational lights. He is scheduled to appear in Talbot County District Court Feb. 17. If found guilty of all three charges, he could be fined up to $2,500. If he admits guilt before his court date, he will pay a fine of $585.