Two men have been indicted after being caught cheating in a fishing competition last month. They had previously won the competition in 2021.
A grand jury indicted Chase Cominsky, 35, and Jacob Runyan, 42, on three fifth-degree felony counts Friday, including cheating, attempted grand theft, and possessing criminal tools, along with an additional fourth-degree misdemeanor charge of unlawful ownership of wild animals. Hermitage Pennsylvania Police Department seized Cominsky’s boat and trailer Tuesday as part of a search warrant, as it was involved in the alleged cheating that happened at the competition on Sept. 30.
“I take all crime very seriously, and I believe what these two individuals attempted to do was not only dishonorable but also criminal,” Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley said in a press release. “I would like to formally thank the officers with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Hermitage Pennsylvania Police Department, the Mercer County District Attorney’s Office, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for their quick actions and their execution of a search warrant.”
SOMETHING’S FISHY: UPROAR AS WEIGHTS AND EXTRA FILLETS FOUND IN WINNING CATCH
Cominsky and Runyan were disqualified from the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Championship in Cleveland’s Gordon Park in Ohio after their catch was allegedly discovered to be stuffed with ten weights. Eight of the weights were 12 ounces and two were eight ounces. Several walleye fillets were also found inside their five fish. The presence of walleye fillets resulted in the pair’s charge of unlawful ownership of wild animals.
Had the pair won the competition, they would have received a total prize of $28,760. They won the competition in 2021. That same year, the pair would go on to win the Blaster Walleye Fall Brawl and the Walleye Slam fishing derbies as well, earning some $306,000 in prize winnings.
If found guilty of any of the felonies, Cominsky and Runyan could face up to 12 months in prison and up to $2,500 in fines. If they are found guilty of the misdemeanor, they could face up to 30 days in jail and up to $250 in fines.
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An arraignment date has yet to be set.
