News Releases

Putnam man charged with numerous felonies, misdemeanors

News Release

Monday, March 01, 2010

Media contact: Joy Hill, 352-258-3426; or Capt. Gregg Eason, 352-427-6739

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Putnam Man Arrested

John (Jay) Frederick Badger Jr., (DOB 07/20/70), of 412 Silver Lake Road, Palatka, landed in the Putnam County Jail Feb. 26, charged with 17 felony and misdemeanor violations. Charges include armed trespass, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and taking deer at night with gun and light.  The violations reportedly occurred on Plum Creek Timber Co. property in Hollister, in Badger's yard under a streetlight when he lived in Interlachen, and on public roads.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Law Enforcement Officer Troy Starling arrested Badger Friday afternoon and booked him into jail on $12,568 bond.

He was charged with:

• two counts of armed trespass (third-degree felony);
• one count of habitual traffic violator (third-degree felony);
• four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child (first-degree misdemeanor);
• one count of taking deer at night with gun and light (first-degree misdemeanor);
• three counts of trespass (first-degree misdemeanor);
• two counts of theft (first-degree misdemeanor);
• one count of permitting an unauthorized minor to drive (first-degree misdemeanor);
• one count of removing a posted sign (first-degree misdemeanor); and
• two counts of taking deer by illegal method (second-degree misdemeanor).

"We've been investigating Mr. Badger's activities for several months, after I received information that he had illegally killed a large deer and had its mounted head in his possession," said Officer Starling. "In subsequent months, we were able to obtain video surveillance of him trespassing on Plum Creek Timber property." 

The theft charges relate to Badger stealing tree stands on the property he was trespassing on, that belonged to members of the hunting lease.

In total, Badger is charged with three felonies and 14 misdemeanors. Third-degree felonies each carry maximum penalties of $5,000 fines and five years in prison; first-degree misdemeanors each carry maximum penalties of $1,000 fines and one year in jail; second-degree misdemeanors each carry maximum penalties of $500 fines and 60 days in jail.

FWC officers have arrested Badger three times prior to Friday's arrest: once in1993 for attempting to take wildlife from a road, in 1995 for attempting to take deer in a closed season, and again in 2003 for possession of doe deer.

Anyone with information about illegal fishing, hunting or other law violations involving fish and wildlife should call the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 right away. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest. The hotline is open 24 hours a day.