11/3/2011
FARMINGTON, W.Va. – Two Terra Alta men have been charged with illegally killing a trophy buck deer in Preston County, according to Capt. W.A. Persinger of the Law Enforcement Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
Natural Resources Police Officers were alerted to the situation the afternoon of Oct. 22. Sgt. G.A. Johnson, Officer J.A. Rhodes and Officer P.S. Ferguson conducted four hours of surveillance near the scene of the crime, a hunting camp near Terra Alta. That evening, Officer Ferguson and Officer Rhodes watched a pickup truck leave the hunting camp. The officers followed the vehicle into Terra Alta and made a traffic stop. They found that the two men in the truck had a 10- point buck deer in the bed of the vehicle.
Upon further investigation, Sergeant Johnson, Officer Ferguson and Officer Rhodes issued three citations each to Ernest Nice, age 39, and Bryan Sypolt, age 37, both of Terra Alta. The citations were for illegal possession of wildlife, providing false information to a law enforcement officer, and hunting without a license.
The officers confiscated the buck deer, which had an inside antler measurement of 15 1/4 inches, making it large enough to qualify under the enhanced penalties section of the West Virginia hunting regulations regarding the illegal taking of trophy bucks.
Charges are pending in Preston County Circuit Court. If convicted, the suspects will be assessed a minimum of $1,000 replacement cost under the trophy deer regulations and up to $2,805 in fines and court costs.
Contact Information
Capt. W.A. Persinger, DNR Law Enforcement, District 1
304-825-6787
william.a.persinger@wv.gov