Dorchester County Waterman Charged with 146 Counts of Poaching Oysters

James A. Horseman

A Dorchester County waterman, twice convicted of poaching oysters, was charged Friday with 146 counts of harvesting undersized oysters by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.

James Alexander Horseman, 26, of Madison, is scheduled for trial in Dorchester County District Court on April 4. If found guilty, he faces a maximum fine of $146,000.

Horseman was intercepted by officers Feb. 9 as he navigated his skipjack into Tedious Creek in Toddville to dock.

When officers checked the first of 152 bushels aboard the vessel and found them to be undersized, additional officers were called to the scene to measure the entire catch. The bushels ranged from 8 percent to 30 percent under the state minimum size of 3 inches.

All of the undersized oysters were seized and returned to state waters.

The Dorchester County State’s Attorney reviewed the investigation and prepared the charges against Horseman. Additional charges are pending.

Horseman was found guilty in Dorchester District Court of harvesting undersized oysters in 2013 and 2015.

Additional officers were called in to check the 152 bushels