Three illegal deer hunters were convicted of multiple big game hunting violations in Cocke and Jefferson Counties prior to the opening of the deer hunting season.

In Jefferson County General Sessions Court, Logan Talley, 20, and Timmy Humphrey, 19, both of Newport, pleaded guilty to spotlighting deer, hunting and killing deer in the closed season, hunting without permission, and hunting from a motor vehicle. 

General Sessions Judge Benjamin Strand ordered Talley to pay $2,564 in fines, court costs, and restitution for the illegally killed deer.  Jail time was suspended and Talley will remain on supervised probation until fines and court costs are paid.  His hunting, fishing and trapping privileges have been revoked for four years.  Talley also forfeited a Mossberg .22 caliber rifle to the TWRA.

Humphrey, Talley’s accomplice, was ordered to pay $1,364 in fines, court costs, and restitution.  His jail time was also suspended and he will remain on supervised probation until fines and court costs are paid.  Judge Strand also suspended Humphrey’s hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for two years. 

TWRA Wildlife Officer Wayne Rich reported that just before midnight on Sept. 10, Talley and Humphrey spotlighted and killed a seven point buck off of Cody Rd. in White Pine.  The pair gave conflicting stories and false information to Jefferson County Deputy Curtis French, who questioned them while in the area of the crime.  Wildlife officers Scott Hollenbeck and Shelley Hammonds also assisted Rich with the case. 

The men were arrested and charged with felony and misdemeanor charges. The felony was later dismissed on a plea bargain.

In Cocke County General Sessions Court, Jacob Swann, 20, of Newport, pleaded guilty to hunting and killing deer in the closed season and possessing and transporting an illegally killed deer.  Judge John Bell ordered Swann to pay $1,368 in fines, court costs, and restitution.  Swann also forfeited a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado truck, a Remington model 7400.243 caliber rifle, and lost his hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for two years. He will remain on supervised probation until fines, costs, and restitution are paid.

Officer Rich reports that he received information that Swann had killed an eight-point buck deer before the season’s opening.  While being questioned, Swann gave multiple false statements to wildlife officers Hollenbeck, Hammonds, Matt Cameron, and Sgt. Nathan Ripley about fresh deer blood and hair in the bed of the truck he was driving.  At one point, Swann stated that the blood and hair were from a deer that someone had killed in Kentucky.  He later stated that it was from a sick doe deer that he shot behind his house. 

During a consent search of the property where Swann resides, a decomposing deer carcass with the head and hide removed was located by Cameron and Hammonds, further indicating that it was possibly a buck. 

Swann was taken into custody and charged with felony and misdemeanor charges.  The felony was dismissed on a plea bargain.