Sisters men nabbed on poaching charges

Deschutes County Sheriff's deputies arrested Josh Orlando, 19, and Billy Bafford, 20, of Sisters on multiple poaching charges and one charge each of possession of a controlled substance on Thursday, October 4.

The arrests came after a report of hunters trespassing on private land east of Sisters. A sheriff's deputy approached a truck occupied by Orlando and discovered the untagged head of a freshly-killed mule deer buck, according to sheriff's office reports.

Bafford was hunting in the sagebrush nearby. As he approached the truck, a deputy ordered Bafford to place his rifle against a tree.

According to sheriff's office reports, after questioning by a pair of deputies, Orlando and Bafford admitted that Orlando shot the deer with Bafford's rifle near the junction of Camp Polk Road and Wilt Road.

According to sheriff's office reports, "the animal's eyes were very dilated as if it may have been shot in the dark with the use of artificial light."

The pair allegedly took the head and dumped the carcass in a rock pit off Highway 126. Deputies later located the carcass and reported footprints at the scene that allegedly exactly matched the footgear of the arrested hunters.

A search of the vehicle turned up a substance identified by deputies as methamphetamine residue. Orlando was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. A deputy searching Bafford at Deschutes County Jail allegedly found methamphetamine in his possession as well.

Bafford was arrested for aiding and counseling in a game violation; hunting outside his permitted unit; criminal trespass with a firearm; and possession of a controlled substance.

In addition to the possession charge, Orlando was arrested for aiding and counseling in a game violation; and illegal possession, taking and waste of a game animal.

He was also cited for driving on a suspended license.

The game violations are Class A misdemeanors; the drug charges are Class C felonies.