SIX PEOPLE NOW FACING SEVERAL CHARGES FOR ILLEGALLY HUNTING TURKEYS. AND A LOCAL NEWSPAPER SAYS ONE IS IN ALFALFA. COUNTY COMMISSIONER KOCO EVAN ONSTOT HERE IN STUDIO WITH US TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN. EVAN. WELL, GUYS, THIS ALL STARTED IN MARCH BEFORE THE OFFICIAL TURKEY HUNTING SEASON. WANT TO GET THAT OUT THERE AND THERE’S SOME DRAMA INVOLVED WITH THIS. SO ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, THE GAME WARDEN, BEN BICKERSTAFF, NOTICED SOME CORN AND GRAIN SCATTERED AROUND THE FEEDERS NEAR A BLIND IN A CAMERA THAT WAS POSTED ABOVE IT. THAT’S WHEN HE ASSUMED THAT IT WAS TO ILLEGALLY HUNT TURKEYS, AND HE NOW SAYS HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT THAT. SO IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL, WITH PERMISSION, THE WARDEN SET UP HIS OWN CAMERA FACING THE BACK OF THE BLIND BECAUSE HE WANTED TO CATCH WHOEVER COULD BE ILLEGALLY HUNTING THESE TURKEYS. AND STARTING ON APRIL 12TH, HE SAYS HE GOT THE FIRST TWO V ROCHE AND CRUZ ROCHE. AND THEN ON THAT SAME DAY, ANOTHER PERSON SHOWED UP ON CAMERA AND WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS MICHAEL ROCHE, WHO, ACCORDING TO THE CHEROKEE MESSENGER NEWSPAPER, IS IN ALFALFA COUNTY COMMISSIONER. IN THAT FOOTAGE, MICHAEL, POLICE SAY IS CAUGHT CARRYING AN ILLEGAL TURKEY. INVESTIGATORS SAY THREE OTHERS WERE CAUGHT FROM APRIL 18TH TO MAY 3RD. ONE OF THEM WAS CAUGHT STANDING OVER A DEAD TURKEY, BUT IT WAS ON MAY 5TH THAT THINGS TOOK A TURN. BICKERSTAFF WENT TO GET HIS CAMERA, WHICH HAD THE EVIDENCE, BUT THE CAMERA WAS GONE AND THE SD CARD ON THAT CAMERA WAS WIPED ENTIRELY. BUT BICKERSTAFF, THE INVESTIGATOR, SAYS THAT HE UNLOADED EVERYTHING TO A CLOUD BEFORE IT HAPPENED, SO HE STILL HAD THE EVIDENCE DIGITALLY. THE NEXT DAY HE GOT A CALL SAYING HIS CAMERA WAS AT THE LOCAL DA’S OFFICE. SO WHEN BICKERSTAFF ASKED THE ATTORNEY WHY HE HAD THE CAMERA, HE GOT A RESPONSE SAYING, QUOTE, THAT IS PRIVILEGED INFORMATION, HENCE THE DRAMA. WE REACHED OUT TO MICHAEL ROCHE, THE C
Alfalfa County commissioner accused in illegal turkey hunting case
6 people, including an Alfalfa County commissioner, face charges for illegal turkey hunting after a game warden captured evidence on camera
Six people, including an Alfalfa County commissioner, face charges in connection with illegally hunting turkeys before the official season began, according to court documents. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelGame Warden Ben Bickerstaff noticed corn and milo grain scattered around feeders near a blind and a camera posted above it, leading him to suspect illegal hunting activities, and he was right.In early April, Bickerstaff set up a camera with permission to capture evidence of illegal hunting. On April 12, the camera recorded V.T. Roach and Cruz Greyson Roach, followed by Michael Scott Roach, identified as the Alfalfa County commissioner by the Cherokee Messenger, carrying an “illegal” turkey.Three more individuals were caught between April 18 and May 3, with one seen standing over a dead turkey. On May 5, Bickerstaff discovered his camera was missing and the SD card was wiped clean. However, Bickerstaff said he had already uploaded the footage to the cloud, preserving the evidence.The next day, Bickerstaff learned his camera was at a local defense attorney’s office. When he inquired about the camera, the attorney responded, “That is privileged information.” Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Attempts to reach Michael Roach for comment have been unsuccessful.Top HeadlinesBrett James, Grammy-winning ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ songwriter, dies in plane crashAuthorities find remains believed to be Travis Decker, ex-soldier wanted in daughters’ deathsAmericans owe more than a trillion dollars in credit card debt — Here’s how each age group comparesOklahoma priest dies days after falling through church ceilingPolice investigate after northwest Oklahoma city business hit by gunfire
Six people, including an Alfalfa County commissioner, face charges in connection with illegally hunting turkeys before the official season began, according to court documents.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
Game Warden Ben Bickerstaff noticed corn and milo grain scattered around feeders near a blind and a camera posted above it, leading him to suspect illegal hunting activities, and he was right.
In early April, Bickerstaff set up a camera with permission to capture evidence of illegal hunting.
On April 12, the camera recorded V.T. Roach and Cruz Greyson Roach, followed by Michael Scott Roach, identified as the Alfalfa County commissioner by the Cherokee Messenger, carrying an “illegal” turkey.
Three more individuals were caught between April 18 and May 3, with one seen standing over a dead turkey.
On May 5, Bickerstaff discovered his camera was missing and the SD card was wiped clean. However, Bickerstaff said he had already uploaded the footage to the cloud, preserving the evidence.
The next day, Bickerstaff learned his camera was at a local defense attorney’s office.
When he inquired about the camera, the attorney responded, “That is privileged information.”
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Attempts to reach Michael Roach for comment have been unsuccessful.
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