Maryland Hunter, Virginia Crabber Charged

Richard Norman Warren

Fisheries and wildlife infractions highlighted a few cases recently handled by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.

An Anne Arundel County man has been charged with 125 counts of wildlife violations following a year-long investigation into his hunting activities.

Richard Norman Warren, 64, of Glen Burnie, was arrested Friday on a criminal warrant issued by an Anne Arundel County District Court Commissioner.

Charging documents say that last year a search of freezers, a shed and a cargo-style container at his former business found 134 sets of antlers with skull caps attached, untagged venison and turkey, several containers of deer tails and boundary signs belonging to the Department of Natural Resources. The current proprietor told police the out buildings still belonged to Warren.

Warren told officers the antlers were his and the result of 50 years of hunting. He later amended his remarks to say some of the antlers were given to him by friends.

State hunting records indicate that in the last 15 years, Warren checked in nine antlered deer, 25 antlerless deer and no turkeys or sika deer.

A hearing date in Anne Arundel County District Court has not been set.

A Virginia man has been charged with six counts of violating Maryland’s fishing regulations after he was caught with 625 undersized crabs as part of his harvest.

Daniel Mercado Mariano Jr., 40, of Tangier, was offloading his catch in Crisfield, Md. on July 5 when officers on patrol arrived to measure. All six bushels contained undersized crabs, which were seized and returned to Maryland state waters.

This is not Mariano’s first offense in Maryland. In 2012, he was found guilty in Somerset County District Court of possessing unmeasured oysters and was ordered to pay $550 in fines and court costs. He is scheduled to appear in the same court on Aug. 9.