Kent County – On Saturday, March 15, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Samuel D. Joiner, 29, of Chestertown with four counts of possession of yellow perch during closed season.
The charges stem from an investigation by NRP alleging Joiner caught yellow perch on four different occasions before the commercial season opened on March 15. NRP seized as evidence 680 pounds of yellow perch and charged Joiner with four counts of possession of yellow perch during closed season, one count of possession of oversized yellow perch and operating a vessel between the hours of sunset and sunrise without proper navigation lights.
A court date of May 13 has been scheduled for Joiner in Kent County District Court.
St. Mary’s County – On Friday, March 14, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Edward D. Hayden Jr., 42, of Secretary with possession of undersized oysters.
Hayden was harvesting oysters commercially in St. Inigoes Creek when NRP stopped and checked his catch. One bushel of oysters containing 7 percent undersized oysters was discovered onboard.
State law requires that after culling and placing oysters in the hold or bottom of a boat, a person's possession of oysters may not include a combined total of more than 5 percent of oysters which measure less than 3 inches from hinge to bill, and cultch consisting of shells, stones, gravel, and slag.
Talbot County – On Sunday, March 9, the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Joseph Bruce Janda Jr., 22, of Wittman with 11 counts of possession of undersized oysters.
The charges stem from an incident on Feb. 21, at 5:10 a.m. when NRP observed Janda’s vessel returning to Wittman Landing without navigational lights. The officer made contact with Janda and performed an inspection on the vessel to check safety equipment required by State and Federal law. During this inspection NRP entered the cabin of the vessel and found a locked door blocking access to the bow or trunk cabin area of the vessel.
When Janda refused to unlock the door, NRP secured a search and seizure warrant for the vessel. The warrant was served and 12 and one half bushels of oysters were discovered in the trunk cabin area. Eleven of those bushels contained anywhere between 10 to 30 percent of undersized oysters.
Janda was charged with 11 counts of possession of undersized oysters, possession of oysters during prohibited time, operating a vessel between the hours of sunset and sunrise without proper navigation lights and expired visual distress signals. A court date of May 15 has been scheduled for Janda in Talbot County District Court.



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