OPERATION VELVET
This operation began with a TIP from a concerned citizen concerning a Butler Co. resident who was taking over his limit of doves. A Division of Wildlife Investigator, acting in an undercover capacity, made arrangements to hunt with the individual later identified as Shawn Harris, 26 of Fairfield, Ohio. Mr. Harris is also a taxidermist in Butler Co. The Investigator obtained information from Mr. Harris and witnessed several wildlife violations during the hunt and Harris admitted to numerous other violations that he committed during the previous hunting season. Armed with this information and observations, a search warrant was obtained and executed by Wildlife Officers and Investigators on October 14, 2005. Mr. Harris was contacted at his residence and admitted to numerous violations involving taking deer and waterfowl illegally. Many of the deer violations occurred in Indiana, and involved taking bucks in velvet at night using led light and rifles. In addition, a large amount of evidence was seized from Mr. Harris including: 26 deer mounts and antlers, 3 fawn deer, 9 ducks, 8 wild turkeys, records and a .300 magnum rifle. Shawn Harris was charged with 8 wildlife charges including, spotlighting, taking deer with a rifle, taking a deer with a rifle in Indiana and transporting back to Ohio, taking waterfowl during the closed season, take waterfowl with a rifle, taking a turkey in Indiana without a license and transporting it back to Ohio. He was sentenced to pay $1180 in fines, forfeited most of the items seized during the search warrant including the rifle, and he received a three year hunting license suspension. Michael Harris, age 19, of Okeana in Butler Co. was also charged with one count of taking a deer with a rifle in Indiana and transporting it back to Ohio. Mr. Harris paid a $100 fine plus court costs and forfeited the deer antlers. Information was obtained that led Officers to obtain a second search warrant and execute it at a residence in Hooven, Ohio in Hamilton Co. David Scott Lewis, 36, of Hooven was contacted and gave Officers written statements admitting to killing at least 2 bucks with a rifle during the previous season. Mr. Lewis was also in possession of 23 sets of large deer antlers without a tag, seal, or certificate of ownership. He was also in possession of untagged turkey parts. Officers seized 23 sets of deer antlers or mounts, turkey parts and a .270 rifle. He was charged with 10 counts of various wildlife charges including: spotlighting, taking a deer with a rifle, possession of deer/deer parts without a tag, seal, or certificate, possession of a turkey/ turkey parts without a tag, seal or certificate. Scott Lewis was sentenced to pay $1840 in fines and restitution, forfeited all items seized during the search warrant and his hunting license was revoked for a period of 2 years. While the search warrant was being conducted, a consent search was obtained for the residence of Joseph Lewis, 18, of Hooven. Joseph Lewis admitted to several deer and turkey violations as a juvenile and admitted to spotlighting a buck deer and shooting it with a rifle in October of 2005 as an adult. Officers seized a crossbow, a 12 ga. shotgun and a set of 10 point deer antlers. He was charged with one count of spotlighting and one count of taking a deer with a rifle. He was sentenced to pay $770 in fines and restitution, forfeit the crossbow and shotgun and 3 years hunting license suspension. Totals for Operation Velvet: 21 charges, $3890 in fines, forfeiture of all equipment except one shotgun and one deer mount, 8 years of hunting license revocation.
Hello friend do you have any information about latest operations? I am trying to gather some information but not able to. Please helpThis operation began with a TIP from a concerned citizen concerning a Butler Co. resident who was taking over his limit of doves. A Division of Wildlife Investigator, acting in an undercover capacity, made arrangements to hunt with the individual later identified as Shawn Harris, 26 of Fairfield, Ohio. Mr. Harris is also a taxidermist in Butler Co. The Investigator obtained information from Mr. Harris and witnessed several wildlife violations during the hunt and Harris admitted to numerous other violations that he committed during the previous hunting season. Armed with this information and observations, a search warrant was obtained and executed by Wildlife Officers and Investigators on October 14, 2005. Mr. Harris was contacted at his residence and admitted to numerous violations involving taking deer and waterfowl illegally. Many of the deer violations occurred in Indiana, and involved taking bucks in velvet at night using led light and rifles. In addition, a large amount of evidence was seized from Mr. Harris including: 26 deer mounts and antlers, 3 fawn deer, 9 ducks, 8 wild turkeys, records and a .300 magnum rifle. Shawn Harris was charged with 8 wildlife charges including, spotlighting, taking deer with a rifle, taking a deer with a rifle in Indiana and transporting back to Ohio, taking waterfowl during the closed season, take waterfowl with a rifle, taking a turkey in Indiana without a license and transporting it back to Ohio. He was sentenced to pay $1180 in fines, forfeited most of the items seized during the search warrant including the rifle, and he received a three year hunting license suspension. Michael Harris, age 19, of Okeana in Butler Co. was also charged with one count of taking a deer with a rifle in Indiana and transporting it back to Ohio. Mr. Harris paid a $100 fine plus court costs and forfeited the deer antlers. Information was obtained that led Officers to obtain a second search warrant and execute it at a residence in Hooven, Ohio in Hamilton Co. David Scott Lewis, 36, of Hooven was contacted and gave Officers written statements admitting to killing at least 2 bucks with a rifle during the previous season. Mr. Lewis was also in possession of 23 sets of large deer antlers without a tag, seal, or certificate of ownership. He was also in possession of untagged turkey parts. Officers seized 23 sets of deer antlers or mounts, turkey parts and a .270 rifle. He was charged with 10 counts of various wildlife charges including: spotlighting, taking a deer with a rifle, possession of deer/deer parts without a tag, seal, or certificate, possession of a turkey/ turkey parts without a tag, seal or certificate. Scott Lewis was sentenced to pay $1840 in fines and restitution, forfeited all items seized during the search warrant and his hunting license was revoked for a period of 2 years. While the search warrant was being conducted, a consent search was obtained for the residence of Joseph Lewis, 18, of Hooven. Joseph Lewis admitted to several deer and turkey violations as a juvenile and admitted to spotlighting a buck deer and shooting it with a rifle in October of 2005 as an adult. Officers seized a crossbow, a 12 ga. shotgun and a set of 10 point deer antlers. He was charged with one count of spotlighting and one count of taking a deer with a rifle. He was sentenced to pay $770 in fines and restitution, forfeit the crossbow and shotgun and 3 years hunting license suspension. Totals for Operation Velvet: 21 charges, $3890 in fines, forfeiture of all equipment except one shotgun and one deer mount, 8 years of hunting license revocation.
