Four west-central Minnesota residents face fines, loss of hunting privileges
(Released December 14, 2010)
Three adults and a juvenile from the town of Beardsley, in Big Stone County in west-central Minnesota, face fines and restitution totaling nearly $13,000 for a variety of charges from a November deer poaching case, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Jason James Murphy, 22, is charged with gross misdemeanor shining, transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, discharge of a firearm at a deer from the road right of way, and open bottle of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.
Tanner Aric Zych, 20, is charged with gross misdemeanor shining, transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, open bottle of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, and under age 21 possession and consumption of an alcoholic beverage.
Ryan Jay Murphy, 18, is charged with gross misdemeanor shining, shooting at deer from the road right of way, untagged big game, and failure to validate a site tag.
A 16-year-old juvenile is charged with gross misdemeanor shining, gross misdemeanor transport of an illegally taken deer, shooting a deer from the road right of way, and taking deer without a firearms deer license.
DNR Conservation Officer Daniel Baumbarger of Wheaton said if the four are convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of $2,000 for gross misdemeanor shining, as well as a total of $2,700 in fines on a variety of other charges. Restitution is $500 for each deer. Their hunting privileges could also be revoked for three years.
Investigators seized two deer, a 2009 and 2004 pickup truck, four shotguns, and two spotlights, which are now property of the state of Minnesota.
A trial date in Traverse County District Court has not been set.
