Hunting provider fined $1,500 for bear-baiting

From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Thu Jan 27, 2011, 02:56 PM EST

OAKLAND — A Garrett County hunting provider who pleaded guilty in district court Thursday to a black bear violation was fined $500 and also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution to the Wildlife Conservation Enforcement Fund, according to Sgt. Art Windemuth of the Maryland Natural Resources Police.

Lee C. Brenneman, 64, Accident, had been charged on the opening day of bear season in October with using corn and molasses to attract bears to his property near Bittinger.

A utility vehicle, seized at the time by Cpl. Walter May, was returned to Brenneman by Judge Leonard J. Eiswert.

Brenneman’s client that day, Donald D. Gutermuth, 53, Baldwin, had been charged with hunting bears with the aid of bait. Gutermuth chose to pay a fine of $500 rather than stand trial.

Other hunters were charged on the opening day of bear season.

• Charles D. Crigger II, 52, Middle River, hunting near Swanton, paid fines of $447 for hunting with aid of bait, $177 for not wearing orange and $227 for not staying in visual contact with his bear-hunting partner.

• Earnold L. Crigger, 52, Middle River, hunting near Swanton, has court date of March 10 for hunting with aid of bait and not keeping visual contact.

• Jerome S. Ziemski, 55, Baltimore, hunting near Swanton, has Feb. 17 court date for hunting with aid of bait and not keeping visual contact.

• Rex A. Penick, 55, Westminster, hunting near Grantsville, paid $500 fine for hunting with aid of bait.

• Terri L. Penick, 48, Westminster, hunting near Grantsville, paid $500 fine for hunting with aid of bait.

• Donald Sneckenberger, 75, and Doy Sneckenberger, 46, both of Hagerstown, hunting near Little Orleans, do not have trial dates determined yet for hunting with aid of bait.

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