Nine charged after investigation into illegal black bear killings

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Nine people are facing charges after authorities say they were baiting bears.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the State Attorney's Office have been investigating "illegal baiting, taking and molestation of Florida black bears by the use of dogs for commercial purposes." The investigation has been going on for about a year.

FWC officers say they gathered evidence of illegal acts in several Florida counties on both public and private land.

Investigators say the defendants lured black bears by placing drums of dog food, doughnuts, pastries and peanut butter throughout Baker, Flagler, Marion, and Union Counties. They say the defendants then used large packs of dogs to chase and maul the bears.

Investigators say after some of the attacks, the defendants posted videos of it on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. They say none of the people involved tried to get the dogs off the bears.

The suspects and charges are:
William Tyler Wood (DOB 11/27/89) of Lake Butler
-Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (One Count), First Degree Felony
-Animal Fighting or Baiting (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Animal Cruelty (Four Counts), Third Degree Felony
-Littering (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Taking of a Black Bear, Second Degree Misdemeanor

Dustin Reddish (DOB 01/21/1993) of Lake Butler, Florida
-Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (One Count), First Degree Felony
-Animal Fighting or Baiting (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Animal Cruelty (Three Counts), Third Degree Felony
-Littering (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Taking of a Black Bear, Second Degree Misdemeanor

Haley Reddish (DOB 06/03/1993) of Lake Butler
-Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (One Count), First Degree Felony
-Animal Fighting or Baiting (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Animal Cruelty (Three Counts), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Taking of a Black Bear, Second Degree Misdemeanor

Mark Lindsey (DOB 10/12/1992) of Moultrie, Georgia
-Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (One Count), First Degree Felony
-Animal Fighting or Baiting (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Animal Cruelty (Three Counts), Third Degree Felony
-Littering (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Taking of a Black Bear, Second Degree Misdemeanor

Charles Luther Scarbrough II (DOB 10/02/1988) of Callahan
-Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (One Count), First Degree Felony
-Animal Fighting or Baiting (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Animal Cruelty (Two Counts), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Taking of a Black Bear, Second Degree Misdemeanor

Hannah Weiner Scarbrough (DOB 08/11/1991) of Callahan
-Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (One Count), First Degree Felony
-Animal Fighting or Baiting (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Animal Cruelty (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Taking of a Black Bear, Second Degree Misdemeanor

 

Christopher Elliot Haun (DOB 09/15/1976) of Ormond Beach
-Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (One Count), First Degree Felony
-Animal Fighting or Baiting (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Littering (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Taking of a Black Bear, Second Degree Misdemeanor

William Edward Landrum (DOB 03/28/1979) of Millboro, Virginia
-Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (One Count), First Degree Felony
-Animal Fighting or Baiting (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device (One Count), Third Degree Felony
-Unlawful Taking of a Black Bear, Second Degree Misdemeanor

Troy Travis Starling (DOB 01/11/1973) of Lake Butler
-Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (One Count), First Degree Felony