Maryland Natural Resources Police Hunting Cases Go To Trial
Two Hunting Deer at Night cases from Garrett and Wicomico are found guilty

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MARYLAND — White-tailed deer season ended Jan. 31 for most people but not for the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP). Two illegal hunting cases, one in Garrett County and one in Wicomico County went to court last week.

On Oct. 8, 2004 in Garrett County, NRP officers charged Joshua D. Crosco, 19, and Brandon A. Bowman, 19, both of Oakland and a female juvenile from Swanton with hunting deer at night (jacklighting), hunting deer in closed season, possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle and hunting from a vehicle. Crosco was also charged with shooting from a roadway, hunting deer in a safety zone and hunting on private property without permission. The16-year-old juvenile was referred to the Department of Juvenile Services.

Crosco received a 30-day jail sentence. Ten of the days were suspended and he will serve 20 days in jail on weekends. He received a $500 fine; one year unsupervised probation and forfeited his rifle, ammunition and hunting knife to the state. Bowman’s charges were placed on the stet docket.

On Dec. 2, 2004 in Wicomico County, NRP officers charged Roger L. Hudson, 40, of Pittsville and Kristel M. Hill, 22, of Parsonsburg with hunting deer at night (jacklighting). Hudson was also charged for casting the rays of a light upon the fields and woodlands without a weapon in possession and removing the head and hide of a deer before checking the deer in with the Department.

Hudson pled guilty to jacklighting and received 180 days in jail suspended, $500 fine, three years supervised probation with part of the probation guidelines of no hunting, fishing or crabbing anywhere and his hunting privileges revoked for five years. Hudson also has to do 200 hours of community service at a rate of 10 hours per month and his rifle was forfeited to the state. Hill’s charges were placed on the stet docket.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) is an enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources. With an authorized strength of 285 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the Natural Resources Police provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.

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May 11, 2005

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov