A disturbing poaching case consisting of multiple illegal deer killings and other crimes in Moffat County was cracked with the help of a public tip.

According to a press release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, wildlife officials received a tip that someone had seen a dead deer in the back of a truck driven by a 17-year-old after hunting season had ended. The juvenile denied any involvement at first.

As the disturbing details of the poaching crimes began to unfold, wildlife officials quickly learned that two other men (Levi Baysinger, 23 and John Pinnt, 42) were involved with the juvenile in various criminal activities, including poaching multiple deer, attempting to destroy evidence, and a burglary case investigated by the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office.

The carcasses of eight buck mule deer were discovered on a property of a cold-case burglary, which the juvenile and Baysinger had access to. Trophy parts were found removed from some of the carcasses. With some, the meat was left to waste. Other carcasses were abandoned entirely. In one instance, eight .22 caliber bullets were found lodged inside the skull of one of the buck deer heads. They matched the bullets from Levi’s pistol.

Despite initial efforts to destroy any evidence of deer DNA, wildlife officers were able to recover enough evidence to make a connection to all three poachers involved in this disturbing string of illegal deer killings.

The juvenile pleaded guilty in early October to aggravated illegal take/possession of three or more big game animals and tampering with evidence, a class-six felony. He was ordered to serve an 18-month deferred adjudication, make a $2,000 donation to Operation Game Thief, and complete 40 hours of community service along with an 18-month supervised probation period.

Levi Baysinger pleaded guilty in August to willful destruction of a big game animal, a class-five felony, which earned him an 18-month deferred judgment and sentence. Baysinger also pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in relation to the cold-case burglary, resulting in fines of $2,393, 40 hours of community service, 18-month supervised probation period, and a mandatory $2,000 donation to the Operation Game Thief, CPW’s wildlife violator tip line. Baysinger also forfeited his .22 pistol.

John Pinnt pleaded guilty in July of 2018 to obstructing law enforcement by destroying evidence. He earned an 18-month supervised probation period and must pay fines of $1,418.50. Additionally, Pinnt is serving a five-year suspension of his hunting and fishing privileges in Colorado and 47 other Wildlife Violator Compact States.

Baysinger and the juvenile may also face a lifetime suspension of their hunting and fishing privileges.

Poaching is a serious crime. If you plan on hunting this season, please obey all the rules and regulations enforced by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Wildlife crimes can be reported anonymously by contacting the Operation Game Thief by phone at 877-265-6648 or by email at [email protected].