(Provided by Michigan DNR)

A Galesburg man has been arrested and charged in the 8th District Court of Kalamazoo County with eight misdemeanor counts relating to the illegal taking of two deer and two turkeys.

During an investigation, a Michigan DNR conservation officer found that Justin Shane-B Neel of Galesburg, formerly of Vicksburg, had illegally killed a deer without a license during the 2012 Michigan firearm deer season. He pled guilty in the 8th District Court of Kalamazoo County, and was convicted of taking the deer without a license. Neel was sentenced and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution to the state’s Fish and Game Fund, along with associated court fines/costs. His hunting privileges were also suspended for three years.

A subsequent investigation found that Neel allegedly had killed two additional deer without licenses in 2012 and was also found to be in unlawful possession of two turkeys in 2010. Neel was charged with eight misdemeanor counts relating to the case and is due in court next month.

In an unrelated case, Michigan conservation officers executed search warrants at two residences in Galesburg and Richland. Conservation officers seized nearly two dozen unlawfully killed game animals, fur-bearing animals, and protected species, which are suspected of being taken illegally during trespass and without appropriate licenses. Additional trapping equipment, firearms and other associated evidence were also seized. The investigation into this case was initiated by a Michigan conservation officer in Kalamazoo County after many hours of covert surveillance.

The two men have been charged with 19 misdemeanor counts stemming from the yearlong investigation. The suspects’ names have not been released, pending their court arraignments.