02-07-2007, 07:10 PM
In the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, Feb. 4, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Officer Washburn Wear stood in the Ocala National Forest listening to the sounds of the night, but waiting for one sound in particular.
Around 12:30 a.m., the sound he was waiting for came loud and clear - BAM! BAM! BAM! - the sharp report of shotgun fire. Two-and-a-half hours later he arrested four men riding in a black pickup truck with a loaded shotgun in front and three dead deer in the back.
After Wear heard the first three shots, he investigated the area around state roads 40 and 19 but didn't find the shooters. He returned to his listening post and heard three more shots around 1 a.m. He drove to the area, passing a small black pickup truck moving slowly in the opposite direction. Since there was little traffic and it was so early in the morning, Wear suspected the truck might be involved in the shooting.
He continued in the direction from which the truck had come, got out and inspected the area and found a spent shotgun shell. While he was on foot, the truck passed him again. As he continued looking for evidence, he heard another shot.
He drove in that direction, found the truck driving toward him and motioned the driver to pull over. The driver's hands were bloody, there was a loaded shotgun inside the truck and three recently killed deer in the back. The truck was driven by Hector M. Luna, 25, and owned by Antonio Barrera Fajardo, 26, of Astatula.
With assistance from Marion County Sheriff's deputies, Wear arrested the four men and took them to the Marion County Jail. He seized the shotgun, deer and a camera as evidence.
Fajardo, Luna, Margarito O. Auiroz, 21, Jairo S. Martinez, 21, all from 24724 Ranch Rd., Astatula, were each charged with three counts of taking deer at night during closed season and three counts of taking wildlife from a roadway. Taking deer at night is a first-degree misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine per count. Taking wildlife from a roadway is a second degree misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine per count.
The FWC needs the public's help to stop illegal killing of Florida's wildlife. If you know of or suspect a wildlife law violation, call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-FWCC 24-hours a day. The call is free, callers may remain anonymous, and they may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to arrest.
Media Contact:
Joy Hill<br />
(352) 732-1225 or (352) 258-3426
Around 12:30 a.m., the sound he was waiting for came loud and clear - BAM! BAM! BAM! - the sharp report of shotgun fire. Two-and-a-half hours later he arrested four men riding in a black pickup truck with a loaded shotgun in front and three dead deer in the back.
After Wear heard the first three shots, he investigated the area around state roads 40 and 19 but didn't find the shooters. He returned to his listening post and heard three more shots around 1 a.m. He drove to the area, passing a small black pickup truck moving slowly in the opposite direction. Since there was little traffic and it was so early in the morning, Wear suspected the truck might be involved in the shooting.
He continued in the direction from which the truck had come, got out and inspected the area and found a spent shotgun shell. While he was on foot, the truck passed him again. As he continued looking for evidence, he heard another shot.
He drove in that direction, found the truck driving toward him and motioned the driver to pull over. The driver's hands were bloody, there was a loaded shotgun inside the truck and three recently killed deer in the back. The truck was driven by Hector M. Luna, 25, and owned by Antonio Barrera Fajardo, 26, of Astatula.
With assistance from Marion County Sheriff's deputies, Wear arrested the four men and took them to the Marion County Jail. He seized the shotgun, deer and a camera as evidence.
Fajardo, Luna, Margarito O. Auiroz, 21, Jairo S. Martinez, 21, all from 24724 Ranch Rd., Astatula, were each charged with three counts of taking deer at night during closed season and three counts of taking wildlife from a roadway. Taking deer at night is a first-degree misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine per count. Taking wildlife from a roadway is a second degree misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine per count.
The FWC needs the public's help to stop illegal killing of Florida's wildlife. If you know of or suspect a wildlife law violation, call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-FWCC 24-hours a day. The call is free, callers may remain anonymous, and they may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to arrest.
Media Contact:
Joy Hill<br />
(352) 732-1225 or (352) 258-3426