Maine Man Faces Jail Time and Fines for Poaching Spree

A Maine man accused of more than 60 hunting violations is finally facing the music after reaching a plea deal. Charged with almost 50 misdemeanors and over a dozen civil violations, 51-year-old Benjamin Hamor, of Mount Desert, is fixing to spend 30 days in jail and get out his check book to pay some hefty fines for his wrong doing.

According to officials, the majority of Hamor’s crimes took place on Maine’s Mount Desert Island - an area strictly off limits to hunting. Given the close proximity to Acadia National Park, federal law prohibits hunting which has led to an overabundance of deer on the island, which has become a magnet for those looking to skirt the rules.

While Hamor is not the first and likely won’t be the last poacher to try his hand at chasing whitetails on the island, he is the latest to get caught. 

Participating in an illegal hunting spree that took place from late August to late November of 2020, Hamor committed numerous hunting violations across various locations, including Bar Harbor, Lamoine, Tinker Island, and Bar Island within Acadia National Park. These violations resulted in 48 criminal charges and 15 civil charges being filed against him.

The specific charges against Hamor included hunting during closed season, exceeding bag limits for certain species, possessing unregistered game, hunting without the required permits, and falsifying evidence related to his hunting activities. These charges highlight the extent and severity of his illegal actions.

Hamor ultimately pleaded guilty to 21 of the criminal charges and admitted responsibility for two of the civil charges. As a result of his plea, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail and required to pay $11,000 in fines. 

His defense attorney, Jeffrey Toothaker, emphasized the potential severity of the consequences Hamor could have faced, stating that the fines could have exceeded $50,000. 

“I think he got handled nicely,” Toothaker said about the resolution. “It could have been a lot worse.”

The Maine Warden Service played a crucial role in the case, conducting a thorough investigation into Hamor's hunting violations. The district attorney's office also considered the time and effort required for a trial versus reaching a plea agreement, suggesting that the plea deal was a practical solution that avoided a lengthy and costly trial.

While Hamor's plea deal did not explicitly address his future hunting rights, it is worth noting that matters such as license suspensions are typically handled by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. 

As such, Mr. Hamor may very well (and should) face additional consequences, such as the suspension or revocation of his hunting license, which would restrict his ability to legally hunt in the future.