Harrisburg, PA - After a lengthy investigation stemming from a road-hunting incident during the firearms deer season, Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer James P. McCarthy filed charges against several individuals for unlawful taking or possession of game or wildlife (deer), using a motor vehicle to locate game, hunting in a safety zone, alighting from a motor vehicle and shooting from the roadway, having loaded firearms in a motor vehicle, lending a license to another, possessing a tag or license of another, and failure to report big game kills.

Those charged were: Harry Francis Sinawa, 33, Forest City; Joseph Ronald Sinawa, 31, Jermyn; Rodney Sinawa, 46, Waymart; James Sinawa, 53, Waymart; Jack E. Sinawa, 58, Waymart; and Edward D. Sinawa, 63, Somerville, New Jersey.

The violations occurred on Dec. 10, in Mount Pleasant and Clinton townships, Wayne County.

The charges were filed before District Justice Ron Edwards, Lakewood, Wayne County. If convicted on all counts, the men together face a total of $26,025 in fines and revocation of their hunting privileges for several years.

WCO McCarthy noted that the investigation began when a concerned citizen made a call to the Game Commission Northeast Region Office.

"The witness saw a deer shot from the roadway and decided that it wasn't right, and something needed to be done," WCO McCarthy said. "After preliminary interviews, more and more information about other incidents were uncovered. Basically what happened was, some of these men would drive around in a pick-up truck until they spotted a deer, then they would stop, and shoot the deer.

"I have never encountered a group that was so brazen in its actions. There even was one individual sitting in the open back of the pick-up truck with a firearm, so he could shoot sooner. It didn't seem to matter where the deer were either; the deer could be next to someone's house or in a wooded area. It doesn't appear the size or sex of the animal was important. They seemed to shoot at any deer they saw. At least four deer were killed, and two other illegal deer -- or at least parts of deer -- where discovered during the investigation.

"These men displayed a total disregard for safety, and the laws of the Commonwealth. Thankfully, a citizen chose to get involved before someone was shot or more deer were illegally killed."

During the course of the investigation, a search warrant was served at the Sinawa residence in Waymart borough with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police. Seized was a large amount of venison, deer in various stages of butchering, firearms, licenses, and assorted parts of deer. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officer David Kaneski assisted during the interview process.

"This was truly a multi agency effort, with help from the Pennsylvania State Police from the Honesdale Barracks, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and Game Commission Deputy WCOs," McCarthy noted. "These charges likely could not have been brought if not for the help of several agencies, and their officers."


Last Updated: 02/24/05