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<p><a href="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Pirate-Poachers-of-the-Chesapeake.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-7682" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Pirate-Poachers-of-the-Chesapeake-1024x587.jpg" alt="Pirate Poachers of the Chesapeake" width="1024" height="587" /></a></p>
<h2>Pirate Poachers of the Chesapeake: Virginia cracks down on oyster thieving commercial watermen</h2>
<p>NEWPORT NEWS, VA. (Nov. 27, 2015) &#8211; The Virginia Marine Police have filed criminal charges against 12 commercial watermen for serious oyster violations in the Rappahannock River, including plundering an oyster sanctuary.</p>
<p>The charges were filed by the Marine Police on November 22, 2015, and November 23, 2015, after consultation with the Commonwealth Attorney. Of the 48 violations, 24 are Class 6 Felony’s,15 are Class 1 Misdemeanors and 9 are Class 6 Misdemeanors. All violations occurred on October 22, 2015.</p>
<p>Virginia Marine Resources Commissioner John M.R. Bull said, “The Commission has no tolerance for oyster thieves, especially those who steal from a protected sanctuary. This matter will be resolved in court and if convicted, these individuals will stand in front of the Commission to determine whether their licenses should be revoked and for how long. In the past two years, the Commission has revoked 39 licenses for natural resources violations, which is the most in decades.”</p>
<figure id="attachment_7680" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7680" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Virginia-Marine-Police.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7680" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Virginia-Marine-Police-300x225.jpg" alt="Virginia Marine Police" width="300" height="225" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7680" class="wp-caption-text">Virginia Marine Police</figcaption></figure>
<p>The charges brought against the oyster harvesters are:</p>
<p>Oyster Violations Rappahannock River Area 5 &#8211; OCTOBER 22, 2015</p>
<p><strong>Anthony Dale Hogge MRC # 008579 &#8211; Resides Gloucester County</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Virginia-suspends-licences-of-ten-watermen-for-harvesting-oysters-from-condemned-area-of-James-River.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7476" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Virginia-suspends-licences-of-ten-watermen-for-harvesting-oysters-from-condemned-area-of-James-River-300x159.jpg" alt="Virginia suspends licences of ten watermen for harvesting oysters from condemned area of James River" width="300" height="159" /></a>Jeffrey Scott West MRC # 008996 &#8211; Resides in Gloucester County</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p><strong>James Luisan West MRC # 008864 &#8211; Resides Gloucester County</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 3 Misdemeanor</p>
<figure id="attachment_6921" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6921" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Oyster-train-unloaded.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6921" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Oyster-train-unloaded-300x199.png" alt="A CSX train being loaded with oyster shells for shipment to Maryland for use in rebuilding oyster beds depleted by years of oystering. " width="300" height="199" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6921" class="wp-caption-text">A CSX train being loaded with oyster shells for shipment to Maryland for use in rebuilding oyster beds depleted by years of oystering.</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>John Matthew West MRC # 008031 &#8211; Resides Gloucester County</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 3 Misdemeanor</p>
<p><strong>John Kenneth West MRC # 3048 &#8211; Resides Gloucester County</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 3 Misdemeanor</p>
<figure id="attachment_6088" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6088" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/09/State-Police-assist-NRP-oyster-police.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6088" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/09/State-Police-assist-NRP-oyster-police-300x225.jpg" alt="Maryland State Police assist NRP oyster police spotting poachers in oyster sanctuary from the air." width="300" height="225" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6088" class="wp-caption-text">Maryland State Police assist NRP oyster police spotting poachers in oyster sanctuary from the air.</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>Willie Jessie West Jr. MRC # 008034 &#8211; Resides Poquoson</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 3 Misdemeanor</p>
<p><strong>Stephen Perriello MRC # 009332 &#8211; Resides Hampton</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<figure id="attachment_10020" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10020" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Front-page-Vol-9-No-5.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-10020" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Front-page-Vol-9-No-5-300x225.jpg" alt="New edition of THE CHESAPEAKE TODAY now on newsstands in Delaware, Maryland &; Virginia" width="300" height="225" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10020" class="wp-caption-text">New edition of THE CHESAPEAKE TODAY now on newsstands in Delaware, Maryland &; Virginia</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>Michael Jackson MRC # 008281 &#8211; Resides Hampton</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 3 Misdemeanor</p>
<p><strong>Evan Alan Fuller &#8211; MRC # Not Registered &#8211; Resides Hampton</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 3 Misdemeanor</p>
<p><strong>Brooks Pruitt MRC # 0010 &#8211; Resides Onancock Eastern Shore</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 3 Misdemeanor</p>
<p><strong>Thomas Pruitt MRC # 3366 &#8211; Resides Bloxom Eastern Shore</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 3 Misdemeanor</p>
<p><strong>Melvin Miller III MRC # 008779 &#8211; Resides Saxis Eastern Shore</strong></p>
<p>28.2-516 &#8211; Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-523 &#8211; Unlawfully using a scrape in an unauthorized area &#8211; Class 6 Felony</p>
<p>28.2-527 &#8211; Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc. &#8211; Class 1 Misdemeanor</p>
<p>4 VAC 20-650-30 &#8211; Closure of Sanctuary Area &#8211; Class 3 Misdemeanor</p>
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