Man, juveniles convicted of poaching white-tailed deer in Somerset County, prohibited from hunting for decades

It will be decades before three people convicted of poaching 19 white-tailed deer in Somerset County over a two-month span in 2020 are allowed to hunt again, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Although authorities were able to tie 19 poached deer to the three suspects, they said they believe there was as many as 31 deer killed around the county.

Sentences for the three suspects — Caleb L. Roland, 26, of Ohio, previously of Somerset, and two juveniles — include fines, restitution and loss of hunting privileges, according to commission officials.

Roland pleaded guilty to three summary counts of unlawful killing or taking of big game and was ordered to pay $3,000 in fines and $5,000 in replacement costs. He is prohibited from hunting or trapping for 30 years.

One of the juveniles was found guilty of 23 felony and two summary counts for his role and was ordered to pay $25,000 in fines and $5,000 in replacement costs. He lost his hunting and trapping privileges for 50 years, according to commission officials.

The second juvenile pleaded guilty to 14 felony and six summary counts and was ordered to pay $15,000 in fines and $5,000 in replacement costs. His hunting and trapping privileges are suspended for 28 years.

All three were ordered to forfeit any guns used. The two juveniles have repeatedly violated game laws, officials said.

The poaching was reported by a witness who helped authorities uncover the crimes.

“Most of the poaching came at night when they would shoot from the vehicle with a spotlight,” officials said in a news release. “Although some of the white-tailed deer were taken for consumption, many were left in the fields to rot.”