Press Releases

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

Contact: Doug Rafferty - 287-5248


August 11, 2012

Mount Vernon Man Indicted on more than 50 Counts of Fish and Wildlife Related Crimes

Augusta, Maine - Mr. Joseph A. Deleskey (38) of Mount Vernon was indicted yesterday (8/9/2012) by a Kennebec County Grand Jury on more than 50 counts of fish and wildlife related crimes. The indictment included numerous charges such as night hunting, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, criminal trespass, hunting deer after having killed one, driving deer and possessing loaded firearms in motor vehicles.

The indictment was the result of an 18 month investigation into the illegal hunting activity of Mr. Deleskey and his associates. In February 2012, as a result of intelligence gathered through citizen complaints, the Operation Game Thief Hotline (OGT), and surveillance by Maine Game Wardens, the Warden Service executed six search warrants and two arrest warrants in the Mount Vernon area. Wardens arrested Mr. Joseph Deleskey (38) for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (Class C felony) and Clayton C. Hall (48) of Vienna for hunting deer after having killed one (Class D misdemeanor).  

The investigation implicated several associates and family members of Deleskey and extended as far away as Danvers, MA. During the investigation the wardens detected Deleskey in violation of more than 100 fish and game violations and alleged his involvement in the illegal killing or wounding of more than a dozen deer.

After consultation with the Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office, the additional charges were filed against Deleskey. Clayton Hall faced an additional 9 charges including criminal trespass, driving deer, terrorizing, hunting deer after having killed one and possessing unregistered deer.

Other associates of Deleskey who are also facing charges as a result of the investigation are:

Robert Rooney (48) of Vassalboro,

Valter Almeida (36) of Peabody, MA,

Bonnie Currier (39) of Vienna,

Douglas Stevens III (41) of Mount Vernon,

Richard A. Deleskey (62) of Danvers, MA

Richard M. Deleskey (41) of Danvers, MA.

Lieutenant Dan Scott of the Warden Service commented on the dedicated work of the Kennebec County DA’s Office throughout this investigation. He added that Deleskey and his associates appear to have a complete disregard for fish and wildlife laws and are having an impact on the local deer populations in their communities. If convicted, Deleskey faces fines, jail time, and license suspensions.