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Ohio wildlife officers face multiple charges

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Ohio wildlife officers face multiple charges

Old 04-21-2010, 03:50 AM
  #21  
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New Watchdog Probe Into Ohio Wildlife Licenses
Associated Press


COLUMBUS, Ohio—The state watchdog is investigating allegations that wildlife officers broke the law by providing out-of-state wildlife officers Ohio fishing licenses at a discount, The Associated Press has learned.

The probe by the Ohio Inspector General follows similar allegations involving a hunting license that has led to felony charges against the wildlife division’s top administrators.

All are on paid leave while they are prosecuted over the hunting license allegations.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife reprimanded two officers in 2007 for helping fellow wildlife officers from Indiana obtain Ohio fishing licenses at the lower, Ohio rate of $19, according to wildlife records released to the AP through a records request.

The officers let the Indiana officers use the Ohio address of wildlife regional offices in Xenia in southwest Ohio. Normally, the Indiana officers would have paid $40 for the license.

Indiana allows out-of-state wildlife officers who are in the state on official business to obtain hunting and fishing licenses at in-state rates. Ohio does not have a similar policy, and it is illegal to put down false information on the licenses when filling them out.

The Oct. 7, 2008, letter of reprimand indicates the officers had a supervisor’s authority to obtain the licenses.

Despite that, “This was against Division of Wildlife directive and should not be repeated again in the future,“ according to the letters signed by Todd Haines, then the manager of the Xenia office.

Haines is one of six officials who have pleaded not guilty in the 2006 case of an Ohio wildlife officer who let a South Carolina officer use his home address to receive a $19 Ohio hunting license, saving $106. Haines was charged with one count of obstructing justice and one count of complicity.

Josh Zientek, one of the wildlife officers reprimanded over the fishing license issue, declined to comment Tuesday.

“I trust the system and we’ve just got to let the system work,“ he said.

At issue with the hunting license is whether Ohio officials knowingly broke the law. Several told investigators that the practice was widespread in the past.

David Graham, chief of the Ohio Wildlife Division, told investigators the practice of providing the in-state license rate was probably outdated but he didn’t think of it as a crime.

“I just had come to the conclusion over time that it just wasn’t the probably a socially acceptable thing to do anymore,“ Graham said in a Feb. 1, 2010, interview with investigators reviewed by the AP.

However, the inspector general’s investigation of the hunting license issue released last week says officials knew what happened was illegal.

“The reality is that Wildlife administrators knew that providing false information on the hunting license application is a criminal offense,“ the report said.

Graham also acknowledged to investigators he was close friends with Allan Wright, the wildlife officer who allegedly obtained the cheaper hunting license for the South Carolina official.

Graham has pleaded not guilty to one count of obstructing justice and one count of complicity

http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/crime...icenses/35402/
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Old 04-21-2010, 04:24 AM
  #22  
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Eric Vaughn

“is a material witness” in the case and no “comment on his testimony.” However, Ohio will “not be pursuing any charges against Eric Vaughn in connection with the resident hunting license.”

Defendant: Wright, Allan

* VIOLATION OF: 2913.42A1 TAMPERING W/RECORDS F3

* VIOLATION OF: 2913.42A2 TAMPERING W/RECORDS F3

* VIOLATION OF: 2921.13A5, FALSIFICATION M1

HEARING SET FOR 04/21/2010 AT 02:00 PM TYPE PRT

JR# 419 PG# 456 -ENTRY, IN THE MATTER OF THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL PROSECUTING ATTORNEY IN AND FOR BROWN COUNTY
OHIO, THAT DAVID KELLEY BE APPOINTED ATTORNEY FOR ALLAN WRIGHT

Defendant: Graham, David

* VIOLATION OF: 2921.32A6 OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE F5

* VIOLATION OF: 2923.03A2 COMPLICITY(OBS.JUST) F5

HEARING SET FOR 04/27/2010 AT 08:30 AM TYPE PRT

Defendant: Lehman, James

* VIOLATION OF: 2923.03A2 COMPLICITY (OBS.JUST F5

* VIOLATION OF: 2921.32A6 OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE F5

HEARING SET FOR 04/28/2010 AT 09:00 AM TYPE PRT

Atty 1: Michael E. Cassity


Defendant: Tackett,Ward, Michele


* VIOLATION OF: 2921.32A6 OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE F5

* VIOLATION OF: 2923.03A2 COMPLICITY(OBS.JUST) F5

VACATED HEARING SET FOR 04/21/2010 AT 11:00 AM TYPE APP

Defendant: Haines, Todd

* VIOLATION OF: 2921.32A6 OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE F5

* VIOLATION OF: 2923.03A2 COMPLICITY(OBS.JUST) F5

HEARING SET FOR 04/21/2010 AT 11:00 AM TYPE APP

Atty 1: John Woliver


Defendant: Miller, Randy


* VIOLATION OF: 2921.32A6 OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE F5

* VIOLATION OF: 2923.03A2 COMPLICITY(OBS.JUST) F5

HEARING SET FOR 04/21/2010 AT 11:00 AM TYPE PRT
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Old 04-21-2010, 06:24 AM
  #23  
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I'll say that if these officials didn't recognize that the actions broke the law then they are unquestionable NOT QUALIFIED to be in their positions. Fire them. And certainly charge them for their involvement.

As to the killing of the deer, which is pretty much unquestionable or deniable, WHERE ARE THE POACHING CHARGES? A fraudulently or illegally obtained permit is NOT VALID. It is the same as NO PERMIT. And THAT is poaching.

So here we go again. Are the officials who are now in charge of this too stupid to not recognize the poaching that has occured? Turn another blind eye? Don't realize that it is criminal?

Good God the incompetence.
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Old 04-26-2010, 02:25 PM
  #24  
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Eric Vaughn

“is a material witness” in the case and no “comment on his testimony.” However, Ohio will “not be pursuing any charges against Eric Vaughn in connection with the resident hunting license.”


John D. Coffin of Michigan.



Jessica "Little noted that her office does not currently intend to pursue charges related to the 2001 issuance of a resident license to Michigan resident John D. Coffin, in part because statute of limitations restrictions may apply."



The defendants did not have to appear at the pretrial last week. The Court has set another pretrial in a couple weeks in which the Defendants must appear. Those pretrials will most likely be in chambers as well (not in open court). No trial dates have been set yet.

Case Number: CR 20102048
Defendant: Wright, Allan


2ND PRETRIAL HEARING SET FOR 05/11/10 @ 12:00

Case Number: CR 20102049
Defendant: Graham, David


SECOND PRE-TRIAL SET FOR 05/17/10 @ 12:00

Case Number: CR 20102050
Defendant: Lehman, James


* HEARING SET FOR 05/17/2010 AT 12:00 PM

Case Number: CR 20102051
Defendant: Tackett,Ward, Michele


HEARING SET FOR 05/17/2010 AT 12:00 PM

Case Number: CR 20102052
Defendant: Haines, Todd


SECOND PRETRIAL CONFERENCE AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEFENDANT SET FOR 5/17/10 @ NOON

Last edited by jci63; 04-29-2010 at 04:50 PM.
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Old 04-27-2010, 05:00 AM
  #25  
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Leadership of the Division of Wildlife indicted

Tom Cross
Sportsmen's Exit

If Brown County Prosecutor Jessica A. Little gets her way then the stars of Wild Ohio may soon be playing a roll on Court TV as the grand jury handed out six indictments to the top leadership of the Ohio Division of Wildlife (DOW) for an alleged cover up of criminal activity of a DOW wildlife officer.

According to the Office of the Inspector General and a staff report on the News Democrat website; David Graham, Chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife; Randy Miller, Assistant Chief of the Division of Wildlife; James Lehman, Law Enforcement Administrator for the Division of Wildlife; Michele Ward-Tackett, Human Resource Administrator for the Division of Wildlife; Todd Haines, Division of Wildlife District 5 Manager; and Brown County Wildlife Officer Allan Wright, were served with indictments last Thursday.

The indictments are a result of a 17 page report, issued March 10, on a four month investigation conducted by the State of Ohio Office of the Inspector General that found Division of Wildlife administrators "Committed wrongful acts or omissions by failing to properly investigate Officer Wright."

The investigation revealed that Brown County Officer Allan Wright wrongfully assisted a South Carolina non-resident in obtaining a fraudulent resident hunting license in 2006 using Wright's home address. The investigation also showed in 2001 that Wrights address "was also listed on a (hunting) license of a Michigan resident whom Wright knew." Additionally Wright admitted to checking in three deer killed by the South Carolina resident.

According to the investigation "Wright knowingly recorded a false address on the harvest report when he listed his (Wright's) address". The report also said that Wright was under investigation in 2007 by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources regarding trapping violations in South Carolina.

The report showed that the Ohio Division of Wildlife District 4 Law Office issued a memo dated April 25, 2007 to all District 4 officers that stated "In recent months the Office of Law Enforcement for the U. S. Fish & Wildlife (USFW) Service has been receiving requests for assistance from Officers around the State. All requests for assistance shall now go through the Law Enforcement Supervisor for approval." According to the report, on April 29, 2009, DOW Chief David Graham extended that same directive to all Ohio Wildlife Officers.

The Inspector General's investigation also reported that Chief Graham, Assistant Chief Miller, Human Resource Manager Ward-Tackett, and Law Enforcement Administrator Lehman, and D-5 Manger Haines failed to report Wright's alleged violations to the ODNR Director or ODNR Law Enforcement Administrator Mike Taylor as required by ODNR policy and the Governor's policy even though all admitted they were aware that providing false information was a violation of law. The Inspector General found "reasonable cause to believe an act of omission occurred."

In conclusion the Inspector General Report found that Officer Wright's act resulted in producing a fraudulent hunting license and produced another false document when Wright checked the deer killed when listing his home address which is clearly a violation of the Ohio Revised Code.

The report also found DOW administrators mishandled the investigation ignoring the criminal violation and also failed to report the suspected criminal activity to the Director of the ODNR as required.

During the course of the investigation the Inspector General found instances of potential criminal behavior related to the falsification of an Ohio hunting license and other related documents.

The conclusion of the report on the Office of Inspector General's investigation found Allan Wright helped a friend in South Carolina obtain a resident hunting license, and furthermore found Wildlife Administrators failed to investigate the deception as a criminal matter.

As a result of the investigation, according to the News Democrat website who credits the information obtained from the Brown County Court of Common Pleas, the following indictments were filed on April 2 by the grand jury.

Allan Wright, Wildlife Officer, charged with two counts of tampering with records and one count of falsification for allegedly altering ODNR records in Brown County.

David Graham, Chief DOW, for one count of obstructing justice and one count of complicity to obstruct justice.

Randy Miller, Assistant Chief DOW, for one count of obstructing justice and one count of complicity to obstruct justice.

Michele Ward-Tackett, Human Resource Administrator DOW, for one count of obstructing justice and one count of complicity to obstruct justice.

Lames Lehman, Law Enforcement Administrator DOW, for one count of obstructing justice and one count of complicity to obstruct justice.

Todd Haines, District 5 Manager DOW, for one count of obstructing justice and one count of complicity to obstruct justice.

According to the News Democrat website it is alleged that the DOW administrators named in the indictments hindered the discovery, apprehension, prosecution or conviction of Allan Wright or to assist Wright to benefit from the commission of crime by obstructing any person by means of force, intimidation or deception. The complicity charge states that each of the indicated officers had aided or abetted each other in committing their obstructing justice charge.

Allan Wright has been the Brown County Wildlife Officer for 16 years and was named National Wild Turkey Federation's Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2001 and was also named Brown County Officer of the Year in 2000 and received the Brown County Meritorious Service Award for exceptional service to law enforcement and the community. Wright was also on Bass Pro Shops Redhead Pro Staff and on Pro Staff for Ultimate Firearms.

For a report on the investigation, please visit: http://www.watchdog.ohio.gov/investigations/2009340.pdf.

http://www.peoplesdefender.com/main....ticleID=131246
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Old 04-27-2010, 05:30 AM
  #26  
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JUST goes to show you...who's watching those who are watching us..good fer' em'...I know that here in PA our officers show NO mercy whatsoever to anyone of us that I've ever known who did anything, they simply will not listen to a single word, from now on I will never say a single word or answer a single question from or for any of them, I've learned my lesson(s) well...can't wait til' a scandle breaks out over here at your neighbors..
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Old 04-27-2010, 08:22 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by Frank in the Laurel
JUST goes to show you...who's watching those who are watching us..good fer' em'...I know that here in PA our officers show NO mercy whatsoever to anyone of us that I've ever known who did anything, they simply will not listen to a single word, from now on I will never say a single word or answer a single question from or for any of them, I've learned my lesson(s) well...can't wait til' a scandle breaks out over here at your neighbors..
Yes sir.........."Loose lips sink ships". LE questions aren't typically asked because they are bored and trying to strike up a friendly conversation - they are "feelers" and one leads to more and more.
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Old 04-28-2010, 09:53 AM
  #28  
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sunaofvitch. They sure would have pressed charges against a regular citizen doing that kind of crap.
Serves em right!
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