Eureka Man Pleads Guilty To Poaching, Weapons Charges And Pollution

EUREKA – A Eureka man pleads guilty to multiple actions of poaching deer, littering and weapons violations.

46-year old Derrick Toste pled guilty Thursday to spotlighting deer, possessing a loaded firearm inside a vehicle, taking a deer without a license and littering within 150-feet of a state waterway.

In October of 2015, Department of Fish and Wildlife Officers contacted Toste after observing him driving on a river bar and shining a bright high-powered light into a wooded areas and field. A search warrant was served and evidence of spotlighting from GoPro footage and deer meat from 4 different female deer were found.

Toste was fined nearly $3,000, will serve 3-years’ probation, is prohibited from hunting, had to forfeit 3-firearms, ammunition, buck knives and the deer meat. He will also be required to complete 200-hours of community service.