Press Releases

Contact: Edie Smith, Spokesperson
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Media representatives can receive press releases via e-mail.

Telephone: work (207) 592-4348

Fax: (207) 287-6395

January 25, 2011

Maine Warden Service, Pennsylvania Game Commission, USF&WS Execute Search Warrants;
Four People Arrested And/Or Summonsed for Illegal Hunting Activities

Augutsa, Maine – The Maine Warden Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Pennsylvania Game Commission executed five search warrants in Androscoggin and Kennebec counties on Monday, January 24, the culmination of a four-month investigation into illegal hunting activity in Maine and Pennsylvania.

Four people were arrested and/or summonsed during the execution of the warrants at their residences: Everett Tyler Leonard, 31, of Turner; Carlton “John” Enos, 19, of Turner; E.H. “Lenny” Leonard, 59, of Turner; and Jason Clifford, 27, of Turner.

During the summer of 2010, the Maine Warden Service received information that Everett Tyler Leonard and E.H. “Lenny” Leonard kill large numbers of deer over the legal limit, according to Maine Warden Service Captain Dan Scott. An investigation was initiated and information regarding the killing of deer during the closed season was confirmed. The investigation continued through December 2010, during which time the Warden Service detected nearly 150 violations of Maine’s hunting laws.

The investigation led Maine Warden Service investigators to Pennsylvania, where a joint investigation between the Maine Warden Service and the Pennsylvania Game Commission ensued. PGC Conservation Officers allege hundreds of violations by the suspects during the months of October and December in Armenia Township.

During the execution of the warrants, Game Wardens seized firearms, deer meat, antlers, bows, arrows, ammunition, a hawk, owls, a computer, documents and other hunting-related equipment.

“These individuals are intentional violators who are having a significant impact on Maine and Pennsylvania’s wildlife resources,” said Captain Scott. “They demonstrated complete disregard for wildlife laws as well as the safety of the public.”

Captain Scott said the effectiveness of good interagency cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was paramount in the successful outcome of the investigation.

Thomas Grohol, Special Operations Chief, for the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Bureau of Wildlife Protection, remarked on the egregious violations the subjects committed in Pennsylvania.

“We anticipate the suspects will be extradited to Pennsylvania where they will be subject to stiff game laws recently enacted in Pennsylvania to address just this type of poaching,” Grohol said. “Their activities are a great detriment to the natural resources of both states. The Pennsylvania Game Commission greatly appreciates the cooperation and teamwork provided by the Maine Warden Service throughout this investigation.”

The Maine Warden Service has been working with the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office on the violations.

Captain Scott encouraged anyone with information regarding abuse of our fish and wildlife resources to call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-Alert Us.

The following subjects were charged and arrested on these violations, and were taken to Androscoggin County Jail:

Everett Tyler Leonard:
Night Hunting (D)
Illuminating Wildlife (E)
Shooting Firearm from motor vehicle (E)
Hunting Deer After Killing One (D)

E.H. “Lenny” Leonard:
Unlawful Trafficking of Schedule W Drugs (B) 2 counts
Criminal Trespass (D) 2 counts
Unlawfully Driving Deer (E) 2 counts

The following subjects were issued summons on these violations:

Carlton “John” Enos:
Hunting Deer in Closed Season (D)
Possessing an Antlerless Deer (E)
False registration of Deer (E)
Trapping W/out a License (E)
Hunting Deer After Killing One (D) 2 counts
Criminal Trespass (D) 2 counts
Unlawfully Driving Deer (E) 2 counts
Illegal Transportation of Deer (CIV)

Jason Clifford:
Hunting Deer After Killing One (D) 2 counts
Possession Antlerless Deer (E)
Possession of an Unregistered Deer (E)
Criminal Trespass (D) 2 counts
Hunting without Proper Orange (CIV) 2 counts
Unlawfully Driving Deer (E) 2 counts
Hunt Antlerless Deer (E)

Maine law Title 17-A issues the following sentencing guidelines: Class B – 10 years maximum jail time and $20,000 fine; Class D – 364 days maximum jail time and $2,000 fine; Class E – six months maximum jail time and $1,000 fine. Pennsylvania’s penalties carry stiff fines and jail time as well.

MWS Captain Scott said that many additional violations were detected and additional charges are likely to follow in both Maine and Pennsylvania. A summary of these violations are as follows:

In Maine:
Hunting While License Revoked (D)
Hunt Deer in Closed Season (D)
Hunt Turkey in Closed Season (E)
Loaded Firearm on an ATV (E)
Unlawful Possession of a Schedule W Drug (C)
Molesting Wildlife with an ATV (E)
Guiding without a License (D)
Hunting Under Influence (D)
Hunting Deer After Killing One (D)
Hunting without Proper Orange (CIV)
Theft (E)
Unlawful Furnishing Schedule W Drug (C)
Discharge Firearm near Dwelling (E)
Sunday Hunting (E)

In Pennsylvania:
Unlawful use of lights while hunting
Unlawful killing or taking of big game
Unlawful devices and methods (use motor vehicle to hunt)
Loaded firearms in vehicles (motion)
Tagging and reporting big game kills
Littering and restrictions on vehicles
False or fraudulent statements on reports
Prohibited devices and methods
Restrictions on recreational spotlighting
Hunting after Hours
False reports to law enforcement authorities
Unlawful acts concerning licenses (false statement)
Loaded firearms in vehicles (motion)
Buying and Selling game
Hunting without Blaze Orange

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