Former Franklin County State's Attorney William K. Richardson, 45, of Benton made his first appearance in court Wednesday to answer allegations imposed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Richardson was cited for hunting-related offenses on Nov. 22, 2009, including one ticket for the unlawful taking of more than two bucks during deer season.
IDNR officials allege that Richardson took three bucks during deer season. He was also issued two citations for failing to tag an eight-point buck and a small fork buck, two citations for failing to check in deer by 10 p.m. and one for failing to check in deer by 10 p.m. as a parental responsibility. His son, a juvenile allegedly also harvested a deer.
The offenses occurred on Nov. 17, 20 and 21.
Richardson said he had permits and that the deer were taken during the daylight hours, but he did not tag them.
Richardson's attorney, Terry M. Green, spoke on behalf of his client, requesting Judge Leo T. Desmond to "set the case down the road a bit." Green said the state had provided discovery in the case.
Richardson is due in court again April 7 for a pre-trial and arraignment.
Others ticketed included Dale E. Wilson, 53, of Ewing and three men from the Mendota area. Authorities also cited two juveniles, and those tickets were issued in the names of their respective fathers.
An April 7 court date was also set for Wilson.
IDNR officers received a tip from a neighbor that several deer had been harvested and were hanging in a barn belonging to one of Richardson's relatives located east of Ewing.
When officers arrived, they discovered that the deer harvested earlier in the shotgun season had not been tagged, nor had they been reported by telephone to IDNR.
According to sources, the hunters had tags for all but one of the deer.
Until early summer 2009, Richardson had been on the legal staff of the IDNR in Springfield. In June, he joined the legal staff of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The charges are considered Class B misdemeanors.
Benton, Ill. —
