Pennsylvania Game News - August 2020 - 46

Deer-abuse case adjudicated
A November incident where an immobile
white-tailed deer was held down and repeatedly
kicked as a smartphone video camera documented
the attack has been resolved in court.
Alexander Brock Smith, 18, appeared May 6
in Jefferson County court and pleaded guilty to a
second-degree misdemeanor count of cruelty to
animals and summary counts of disturbance of
game or wildlife, unlawful possession of game or
wildlife, using unlawful devices or methods while
hunting and failure to wear the required amount
of fluorescent orange while hunting.
In exchange for his guilty pleas, Smith
agreed to serve two years on probation, with
his community service to be completed at an
animal shelter and through presentations made
to hunter-education classes and sportsmen's
clubs. He will be required to pay $1,650 in
fines and his hunting license will be revoked
for 15 years.
The rest of the charges Smith faced were
dropped as part of the agreement.
Smith was charged alongside a 17-year-old
juvenile whose case was resolved May 28 in
Jefferson County juvenile court. Juvenile court
records are not available for public view.
Videos Smith recorded of the Nov. 30
incident, then shared through the messaging
app Snapchat, were seen by thousands of people
worldwide, leading to significant public outrage
over the incident. The Game Commission
launched an investigation immediately after
receiving a report and filed a host of charges
against Smith and the juvenile. Among charges
filed against each defendant were two felony
counts of aggravated animal cruelty and
two felony counts of conspiracy to commit
aggravated animal cruelty.
Game Commission Executive Director Bryan
Burhans praised the law-enforcement work that
led to charges, and stressed that the deplorable
actions depicted in the video in no way are
representative of the hunting community.
"From the start, some of the loudest voices
calling for justice in this case were those of
hunters, who care deeply about wildlife and
have always stepped up to protect it," Burhans
said. "That mindset, passed down through
the generations, might be the biggest reason
we enjoy healthy and sustainable wildlife
populations today."

46

can be accessed through the app
by selecting "Turkey Sighting
Survey."
The public is encouraged to
report any turkeys observed during
July and August. Information
submitted helps the agency analyze
turkey reproduction. Participants are
requested to record the number of
wild turkeys they see, along with the
general location, date, and contact
information if agency biologists
have any questions.
"The turkey survey enhances
our agency's internal survey, which
serves as a long-term index of turkey
reproduction," explained Mary
Jo Casalena, agency wild turkey
biologist. "By reporting all turkeys
seen during each sighting, whether
gobblers, hens with broods or hens
without broods, the data help us
determine total productivity, and
allow us to compare long-term
reproductive success.
All reports help to improve
wild turkey conservation in the
Commonwealth, Casalena said.

ART SHOW CANCELED
This year's Middle Creek Wildlife
Art Show, a free-admission three-day
show held annually in early August, was
canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The popularity of the Wildlife Art
Show draws hundreds of spectators and
artists to the Middle Creek Visitor Center
and would create an environment where
social-distancing guidelines could not
be adhered to," said Southeast Region
Director, Bruce Metz. "Acting out of an
abundance of caution for the health
and safety of the public, the artists, and
agency employees, the decision was
made to cancel this year's event."
Metz said plans for the show to return
in 2021 already are in the works.
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2020

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