Ohio Wildlife Division's "Operation North Coast" a massive law enforcement undertaking

After more than two years of tracking down leads and tips - as well as performing extensive investigative operations by 45 of its officers - the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife has seen charges brought to date against 28 Ohioans for various alleged illegal fish and game activity.

The charges stemming from the agency’s “Operation North Coast” range from such routine and mundane alleged misdemeanor violations as hunting without the permission of the landowner and one deer-check-in issue, to such alleged felonies as “engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity,” “tampering with records,” and “felony sale of wildlife.”

Several of the accused individuals have pled out to at least some of their charges, says officials with the Wildlife Division.

Also, at least one of the individuals currently charged with alleged fish or game law violations has encountered prior arrests for breaking the state’s fish and game laws.

Ohio’s Wildlife Division officials first made public its “Operation North Coast” back in early March and as reported in the March 29^th issue of “Ohio Outdoor News.”

At the time the agency reported that its “Operation North Coast” was still an on-going investigation that involved some 40 individuals in 10 of Ohio’s 88 counties, and that the Wildlife Division had received various courts’ permission to serve search warrants.

Counties where arrest warrants have thus far been obtained include Wood, Lucas, Henry, Lorain, and Richland.

Wildlife Division spokesman John Windau said in an interview with “Ohio Outdoor News” in March that the agency’s law enforcement agents’ work included at least two deer-hunting seasons plus last summer’s walleye-fishing season.

Some of the investigative work was done secretively by the Wildlife Division’s corps of undercover commissioned agents, added Ronald L. Ollis, supervisor of the agency’s special operations wing.

Ollis says too that the Wildlife Division continues to investigate other individuals who may have allegedly committed various state fish and game law violations. If the Wildlife Division determines that additional people have allegedly broken the state’s fish and game laws then likely more charges will be forthcoming, Ollis says.

As for the alleged crimes themselves, Ollis noted that more so than the alleged buyers of fish and game were the alleged sellers of such wildlife, calling the latter the operation’s “big fish.”

“I don’t know if ‘Operation North Coast’ is the largest investigation we’ve ever done or not,” Ollis said. “Certainly, if additional charges are brought against others then, yes, it could become the largest such operation in our history.”

Besides the state’s alleging that illegal selling of fish and game occurred there was evidence that suggests how “gross over-harvesting” of deer occurred in at least some instances, Windau said as well at the time.

Windau said too in March that the genesis of the investigation was in large part prompted by calls to the state’s Turn-In-A-Poacher (TIP) hotline; a toll-free telephone project that allows the public to call in with possible fish and game law violations. Tipsters are potentially eligible for monetary rewards.

Also, said Windau in March, that while the investigation did not have a deliberate “connect-the-dots” scenario about it, “Operation North Coast” investigators were able to channel their energies and work at alleged similar illegal activity elsewhere; thereby evolving a cascade effect.

Similarly, Windau said in March, the Wildlife Division was working closely with various county prosecutors who are the persons legally empowered to file charges though with extensive input from the agency.

Wildlife Division officials maintained a collective bell of silence covering its agents’ investigations through the remainder of the spring and into the summer.

As the process has unfolded, the Wildlife Division said in a statement that on August 4th its agents served an arrest warrant on Robert Mandon Freeworth (age 36), Grand Rapids, Ohio.

Freeworth was indicted by a Wood County grand jury earlier in the week. He was indicted on various felony and misdemeanor counts for alleged fish and game law-related misdeeds. The alleged felonies include: engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, sales of wildlife, having weapons under disability, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle (three counts), tampering with records (two counts), and aggravated possession of drugs.

Freeworth’s alleged misdemeanors include: using weapons while intoxicated (2 counts), jacklighting, hunting without permission of the landowner, and wildlife violations (3 counts).

If convicted, Freeworth faces incarceration, fines, wildlife restitution, community control sanctions, suspension or revocation of any fishing and hunting licenses, the re-imbursement for investigative cost, and the forfeiture of firearms and a vehicle.

Further, the Wildlife Division says, Wood County’s Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gwen Howe-Gebers has been working with state wildlife investigators on the case.

“The investigation was well executed and prepared which is a testament to the ODNR investigative unit in making sure rules and regulations are followed by all,” Howe-Gebers said in a prepared statement. “The cases demonstrate that those who hunt illegally need to be held accountable for their actions.”

As for the Wildlife Division, the agency’s law enforcement administrator Ken Fitz said “The indictment demonstrates the seriousness of wildlife crimes and commercialization that was taking place in the Wood County area.”

Besides charges being filed against Robert Mandon Freeworth (age 36), Grand Rapids, Ohio, others who’ve thus far been charged with alleged fish and game law violations include (Note that some of the defendants have all ready appeared in court and received judicially applied punishment):

Dawn Large (age 42), Grand Rapids, Ohio:

• No hunting license - (Wood County, Bowling Green Municipal Court, M-4).
• Hunting without permission  (Wood County, Bowling Green Municipal Court, M-3).
• hunting deer with aid of motor vehicle – (Henry County, Napoleon Municipal Court, M-3).
• shooting from or across a roadway (Henry County, Napoleon Municipal Court., M-3).
• possessing a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (Henry County, Napoleon Municipal Court, M-1).
  Robert V. Freeworth (age 59), Grand Rapids, Ohio:
• Two counts aiding another in a wildlife violation - Aiding in Henry County, Napoleon Municipal Court, M-1 Second Offense Deer Violation, $500.00 fine plus $156.00 CC, 3 years hunting and fishing license suspension). Wood County charge not finished.
  Ronnie L. Borders (age 34), Weston, Ohio:
• Deer check-in violation (Wood County, Bowling Green Municipal Court. M-1, Second Offense Deer Violation).
  Jo L. Sears (age 62), Bowling, Green, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof  (Wood County, Bowling Green Municipal Court., M-3).
  Robert Parker Jr. (age 64), Portage, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof (Wood County, Bowling Green Municipal Court, M-3).
  Shawn Matthews (age 34), Grand Rapids, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof (Wood County, Bowling Green Municipal Court, M-3).
  William Seyfried (age 70), Gibsonburg, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof (Wood County, Bowling Green Municipal Court., M-3).
  Rodney Hall (age 44), Bowling Green, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof (Wood County, Bowling Green Municipal Court., M-3).
  Jarod Sinning (age 39), Bowling Green, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof (2 counts) (Wood County, Bowling Green Municipal Court, M-3).
  Albert Tift Jr. (age 63), Toledo, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof (Lucas County, Sylvania Municipal Court., M-3.)
  Matthew Langlois (age 40), Waterville, Ohio:
• Theft by deception (Lucas County, Maumee Municipal Court., M-1).
  Samuel Young (age 65), Liberty Center, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof (Henry County, Napoleon Municipal Court. M-3).
  Lawrence Turner (age 39), Toledo, Ohio:
• Theft by deception (Lucas County, Maumee Municipal Court., M-1, but as part of plea agreement amended to  a M-4 unauthorized use of property, $250 plus $180 court costs. Also Turner was ordered to pay Maumee Bait and Tackle back his half of prize money totaling $187.50. Turner likewise is prohibited to have any contact with Maumee Bait and Tackle, and is further prohibited from entering into any fishing tournaments on the Maumee River for a period of three years).
  Rick Bruielly (age 66), Weston, Ohio:
• Failure to keep and maintain proper taxidermy records (Wood County, Bowling Green Municipal Court, M-4, paid $100.00 fine and $145.00 court costs).
  Louis Takas (age 49), Toledo, Ohio:
• Failure to keep and maintain proper processor records (Lucas County, Toledo Municipal Court.  M-4, No fine, assessed $99 in court costs).
  Beth Blaze (age 46), Swanton, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof – (Lucas County, Maumee Municipal Court, M-3. Paid $75 fine, assessed $130 in court costs).
  Jason Szczublewski (age 40,) Maumee, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof (Lucas County, Maumee Municipal Court, M-3. Paid $100 fine, assessed $105 in court costs).
  Cyndal Waldvogel (age 30), Grand Rapids, Ohio:
• Purchase wild animal or part thereof (Lucas County, Maumee Municipal Court. Court, M-3. Paid $35.00 fine, assessed $130 in court costs).
  Roger Havens (age 70), Port Clinton, Ohio:
• Felony sale of wildlife (two counts) - (Ottawa County, Ottawa County Municipal Court, F-5)
  Steven Rider (age 57), Port Clinton, OH:
• Three counts sale of wildlife (sport fish)- (Ottawa County, Ottawa County Municipal Court, M-4)
  Carl Taylor Jr. (age 57,) Lorain, Ohio:
• Felony sale of wildlife (Four counts), illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program (Seven counts) - In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit. (Lorain County, Lorain County Common Pleas Court, F-5).
  Melissa Taylor (age 36), Lorain, Ohio:
• Illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program - In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit- (Lorain County, Lorain County Common Pleas Court, F-5).
  Victor Velez (age 35),Cleveland, Ohio:
• Sale of wildlife (sport fish) - (One felony and Two misdemeanor counts), receiving stolen property- In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit.- (Lorain County, Lorain County Common Pleas Court, F-5 and Two M-4s, receiving stolen property, M-1).
  Carmillo Gonzales (age 57), Lorain, Ohio:
• Sale of wildlife (sport fish) - In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit.- (Lorain County, Lorain Municipal Court, M-4).
  Dennis Urig (age 64), Sheffield Lake, Ohio:
• Felony sale of wildlife (deer), deer hunting violations (Two counts) - (Lorain County, Lorain County Common Pleas Court, F-5 on sale, M-3 on deer violations).
  Anthony Lenz (age 31), Grafton, Ohio:
• Felony sale of wildlife (sport fish)- (Lorain County, Lorain County Common Pleas Court, F-5).
  Ronald Gasparac (age 60), Mansfield, Ohio:
• Felony sale of wildlife (sport fish) (Three counts) (Richland County, Richland County Common Pleas Court, F-5).
   
  Degrees of penalty under the Ohio Revised Code. Here is a list of the maximum penalties that can be applied:
   Fourth Degree Misdemeanor (M-4 -  no more than 30 days jail and/or up to $250 fine.
  Third Degree Misdemeanor (M-3) -  no more than 60 days jail and/or up to $500 fine.
  Second Degree Misdemeanor (M-2) - no more than 90 days jail and/or up to $750 fine.
  First Degree Misdemeanor (M-1)  - no more than 180 days jail and/or up to $1000 fine.
   Fifth Degree Felony (F-5) – up to1 year imprisonment and/or up to $2,500 fine.
  “The other alleged crimes have specific penalties, depending upon the paragraph which they are convicted,” said Ronald L. Ollis, the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s Special Operations Supervisor. “I would say the penalties include the possibility of significant jail sentences and fines along with what other community control sanctions the court wishes to apply.”  
   A license revocation and restitution could be applied to all the defendants with wildlife violations (including sales and purchases). The Wildlife Division typically requests for that for those who are selling, based on the facts of the case.
  Three of the charged individuals with known prior fish and game law arrest history are:
   Robert Mandon Freeworth  - (Two) priors; one on 10/8/2015 for taking yellow perch over the limit, and the second on 11/14/1997 for trapping muskrats during the closed season.
  Robert V. Freeworth – (One) prior on 12/5/2000 for hunt/take/shoot deer from roadway or motor vehicle.
  Ronald Borders – (One) prior for deer-tagging violation.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net