Pennsylvania: Investigators seize weapons, animal mounts from deer-poaching suspect Richard Bartoletti

PENNSYLVANIA -- The North Fayette Township man accused of poaching a buck at Washington Cemetery last year was arrested Thursday on charges he illegally sold a shotgun to an undercover officer.
  
A Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife conservation officer charged Richard Bartoletti, 49, of 7419 Noblestown Road, with three counts of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, court records show.
  

Acting on a tip that Bartoletti was selling wildlife mounts and firearms, undercover officers said they were taken Jan. 17 to the home of Bartoletti’s father in Midway and shown a gun safe containing more than 20 firearms.
  
An undercover commission officer and an undercover state trooper agreed to meet Bartoletti at his residence Thursday, where they purchased a 12-gauge shotgun for $425, court records state.
  
Following the sale, investigators served search warrants at Bartoletti’s residence and that of his father at 307 Eaton Ave. and seized 25 firearms and 46 animal mounts, including those of deer, turkey, pheasant and bobcat, and a dog, Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said.
  
Vittone said investigators were attempting to determine if any of the weapons were stolen and whether Bartoletti was illegally selling animal mounts.
  
Bartoletti was prohibited from possessing guns under a Feb. 11 drug conviction and a March 21, 2005, conviction for corruption of minors, the affidavit indicates.
  
He is awaiting trial in Washington County Court on charges that include illegally shooting game from a vehicle, shooting a weapon in a cemetery, unlawful killing of big game, having a loaded weapon in a vehicle, using food to entice game and possessing a hunting tag that belonged to another person. He is accused of using a crossbow to kill a nine-point buck at the cemetery in October.
  
Bartoletti was in the cemetery with Kelly McClelland, an informant working with the Game Commission, and he later claimed it was McClelland who shot the deer.

  
His alleged conspirator, Elaine Strnisha of Canonsburg, was found guilty last month on a summary charge of illegally acquiring a license and improperly loaning the license to Bartoletti. District Judge Robert Redlinger fined her $487.
  
Bartoletti was sent to Washington County Jail on Thursday on the latest charges on $25,000 bond set by District Judge Larry Hopkins. He posted his bond Friday and was transferred to Beaver County Prison, court records indicated.
  
He was sentenced to 2 years in prison after pleading guilty two weeks ago in Allegheny County Court in the drug case filed by police in North Fayette in June 2014, court records state.
  
(Observer-Reporter - Feb 28, 2015)