3 face charges for illegal deer hunting in Fairfield

Three people are facing felony charges for illegally hunting deer in Fairfield, according to court papers.

Investigators with the Pennsylvania Game Commission filed charges against the trio of suspects this week after getting a tip Nov. 22 that they may have been involved with the unlawful taking of a buck off Love Hollow Road, according to court papers. State game wardens reported that they learned numerous other deer were taken illegally during interviews with the suspects.

Angelica S. Morgan, 19, and Michael T. Matson Jr., 21, both of Bolivar, and Chase A. Piper, 20, of Derry Township, are charged with multiple counts of taking big game and using a motorized vehicle while hunting. Matson and Morgan face additional counts of tampering with evidence. Matson is accused of unlawfully having a firearm.

Game wardens reported searching the home of Matson and Morgan on Nov. 22, five days before regular firearms season started in Pennsylvania. Deer meat and antlers were seized and authorities learned through searches of their cell phones that messages and photographs were exchanged with others about additional deer being killed, according to court papers.

Matson and Morgan told investigators that they had deleted some of the messages and photos after learning about the search warrant and identified Piper as an accomplice.

Authorities said Piper and Matson shot and killed several bucks and antlerless deer, including three in one night, in October and November, before rifle season started, on Love Hollow Road, Creek and Mountain View roads and Hannah Trail. On some of the occasions, the men were driving in a vehicle when they stopped and fired shots from inside it or on the road, according to court papers.

Matson is not permitted to have a firearm because of past felony convictions, police said.

Morgan is accused of helping Piper and Matson recover a buck on Oct. 28 and was present on Nov. 19 when four deer were either shot at or killed along Clark Hollow Road. Three antlerless deer were found dead from bullet wounds the next day, according to court papers.

Piper and Morgan were arraigned Thursday and freed on $10,000 unsecured bail. They could not be reached. An arrest warrant had been issued for Matson. None of the three had attorneys listed in online court records. Preliminary hearings for Piper and Morgan are set for Aug. 11.