On August 4, 2016, State Wildlife Officers from the ODNR Division of Wildlife served an arrest warrant on Robert Mandon Freeworth, 36, of Grand Rapids, Ohio. The arrest stems from a long-term investigation dubbed Operation North Coast that was closed March 2016 when more than 45 state wildlife officers and investigators executed search warrants and conducted interviews with dozens of subjects.
Freeworth was indicted by a Wood County grand jury earlier this week on nine felony and seven misdemeanor counts. The felonies include: engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, sales of wildlife, having weapons under disability, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle (3 counts), tampering with records (2 counts), and aggravated possession of drugs. Misdemeanors include: using weapons while intoxicated (2 counts), jacklighting, hunting without permission of the landowner, and wildlife violations (3 counts).
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gwen Howe-Gebers from the Wood County Prosecutor’s office has been working with state wildlife investigators on the case. Howe-Gebers states, “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. The cases demonstrate that those who hunt illegally need to be held accountable for their actions.”
ODNR Division of Wildlife Law Enforcement Administrator Ken Fitz stated, “The indictment demonstrates the seriousness of wildlife crimes and commercialization that was taking place in the Wood County area.”
If convicted, Freeworth faces incarceration, fines, wildlife restitution, community control sanctions, re-imbursement for investigative cost and forfeiture of firearms and a vehicle.
Operation North Coast was initiated after the wildlife agency received multiple complaints from landowners, sportsmen and women, and the general public in reference to the illegal taking and sales of wildlife, including sportfish and deer, by subjects along Lake Erie. The case includes as many as 40 defendants throughout 10 counties. Many facets of the investigation continue.
Below is a summary of people who have been charged with crimes to date.
Dawn Large (42) Grand Rapids, OH: No hunting license, hunting without permission, hunting deer with aid of motor vehicle, shooting from or across a roadway, and possessing a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Robert V. Freeworth (59) Grand Rapids, OH: Two counts aiding another in a wildlife violation
Ronnie L. Borders (34) Weston, OH: Deer check-in violation
Jo L. Sears (62) Bowling, Green, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Robert Parker Jr. (64) Portage, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Shawn Matthews (34) Grand Rapids, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
William Seyfried (70) Gibsonburg, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Rodney Hall (44) Bowling Green, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Jarod Sinning (39) Bowling Green, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof (2 counts)
Albert Tift Jr. (63) Toledo, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Matthew Langlois (40) Waterville, OH: Theft by deception
Samuel Young (65) Liberty Center, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Lawrence Turner (39) Toledo, OH: Theft by deception
Rick Bruielly (66) Weston, OH: Fail to keep and maintain proper taxidermy records
Louis Takas (49) Toledo, OH: Fail to keep and maintain proper processor records
Beth Blaze (46) Swanton, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Jason Szczublewski (40) Maumee, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Cyndal Waldvogel (30) Grand Rapids, OH: Purchase wild animal or part thereof
Roger Havens (70) Port Clinton, OH: Felony sale of wildlife (2 counts)
Steven Rider (57) Port Clinton, OH: 3 counts sale of wildlife (sport fish)
Carl Taylor Jr. (57) Lorain, OH: Felony sale of wildlife (4 counts), illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program (7 counts)- In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit.
Melissa Taylor (36) Lorain, OH: Illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program- In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit
Victor Velez (35) Cleveland, OH: Sale of wildlife (sportfish) (1 felony and 2 misdemeanor counts), receiving stolen property- In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit.
Carmillo Gonzales (57) Lorain, OH: Sale of wildlife (sportfish)- In conjunction with Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Investigative Unit.
Dennis Urig (64) Sheffield Lake, OH: Felony sale of wildlife (deer), deer hunting violations (2 counts)
Anthony Lenz (31) Grafton, OH: Felony sale of wildlife (sportfish)
Ronald Gasparac (60) Mansfield, OH: Felony sale of wildlife (sportfish) (3 counts)
For more information, contact:
Gwen Howe-Gebers, Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
(419) 354-9250
John Windau, ODNR, Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6325
Ronald Ollis, ODNR, Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6315