After a lengthy investigation involving troopers of the Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish & Wildlife Division, a Pendleton area man was arrested on Jan. 6 on multiple misdemeanor charges related to the illegal taking of wildlife on private and public lands within Umatilla County.
In September of 2017 an OSP Fish & Wildlife trooper received information about alleged illegal hunting activities. As the investigation progressed, the primary suspect was identified as Joseph Reide St. Pierre, 18, who was alleged to be illegally hunting, taking, and wasting wildlife on both public and private properties in Umatilla County.
Information obtained during the investigation alleged that St. Pierre was involved in the unlawful taking of wildlife as far back as the fall of 2016, to include a large mule deer buck, three large whitetail bucks, and two antlerless elk.
On Saturday Jan. 6th, St. Pierre was lodged at the Umatilla County jail for probable cause and arraigned on Monday,on the following charges:
* Unlawful Take of Buck Deer Closed Season – 4 counts
* Unlawful Waste of Game animal – 2 counts
* Hunting on the Cultivated Lands of Another – 3 counts
* Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm Across a Public Way – 2counts
* Hunting prohibited method: Shotgun with shot restrictions – 1 count
* Unlawful Take of Antlerless Elk – 2 counts
* Exceeding Annual Bag Limit Elk – 1 Count
* Criminal Trespass In The Second Degree – 1 counts
* Criminal Trespass While in Possession of a Firearm – 1 count
* Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm from a Motor Vehicle – 1 count
* Hunting with the Assistance of Artificial light – 1 count
* Assisting of Aiding another in committing wildlife violation, Unlawful Taking of Buck Deer – 2 counts
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the Turn-in-Poacher TIP hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or contact Trooper Tom Juzeler or Senior Trooper Ryan Sharp at the Pendleton office of the Oregon State Police 541-278-4090.
