The investigation stemmed from a complaint of hunting from an off-road vehicle (ORV) and trespassing on Nov. 18, 2018 during the time McCollough had claimed to have killed a trophy class deer. Electronic check station records revealed inconsistent reporting of the deer killed by McCollough. An interview with McCollough revealed additional discrepancies in his hunting activities.
Search warrants were issued and served on the cellular phone in McCollough’s possession. Data retrieved from the phone account revealed text messages sent by McCollough earlier in the day of the alleged incident expressing intent to hunt without obtaining a valid hunting license. Other text messages sent by McCollough to two additional phone numbers that afternoon described him killing the deer and were time-stamped approximately 45 minutes prior to him purchasing the appropriate license online.
The Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office filed multiple hunting-related criminal charges. The monetary value of the deer is estimated at $4,500 due to its size. The deer was forfeited to Indiana Conservation Officers as a portion of the agreement established by the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office.
All charges are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Information on Indiana’s hunting regulations is at hunting.IN.gov.