ROMNEY, W.Va. — Eight area residents, including two former Mineral County deputy sheriffs and an Allegany County EMS official, have been charged with hunting crimes that span three Virginia counties- Western and part of Maryland.
West Virginia Natural Resources Police Lt. Timothy L. White said Tuesday that 223 charges involving at least 27 illegally taken antlers were filed in West Virginia’s Mineral, Grant and Hampshire counties.
Former Mineral County deputy sheriffs Tyler Biggs and Dalton Dolly are among those charged, White said.
They resigned from their positions, he said.
Christopher Biggs, who was named chief of emergency medical services for the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services in 2019, was also charged and suspended from duty effective immediately for an “alleged violation of the law,” county officials said in a news release Tuesday.
Other defendants include Colton Broadwater, Ivy Rodenhaver, Robert Horner Sr., Robert “Beau” Horner Jr. and Gregory Broadwater.
The offenses began in mid-September and continued through late December, White said, adding that criminal complaints had been filed for the warrants.
The charges, many of which will cover trophy costs relating to the unlawful killings, include spotlighting and loading weapons into vehicles.
A person convicted of poaching a trophy male in West Virginia must pay a replacement fee calculated based on the width of the antlers.
For example, a buck with antlers wider than 16 inches but less than 18 inches incurs a charge of $1,500.
The Mineral County Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s offices “supported the investigation,” White said.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police could press charges for wildlife and fisheries violations, White said.
Go back to times-news.com as we update this developing story.
Teresa McMinn is the digital editor of the Cumberland Times-News. She can be reached at 304-639-2371 or [email protected].
