AUGUSTA – Fifteen of 57 hunting charges against a Mount Vernon man have been condensed by the District Attorney’s Office into a single felony charge.

Joseph A. Deleskey, 39, also faces 42 misdemeanor charges.

He is among several relatives and friends who were charged with hunting violations after an 18-month investigation by the Maine Warden Service, which alleges that Deleskey was involved in illegally killing or wounding more than a dozen deer.

A dismissal document filed recently in Superior Court by Assistant District Attorney Steven Parker says the 15 counts were merged with the first count of the indictment, which charges Deleskey with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on Nov. 1, 2010.

Deleskey was prohibited from having a gun because he was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon on Feb. 3, 2000, in Massachusetts.

Charges against him were announced in August.

Acting District Attorney Alan Kelley said Thursday that an assistant district attorney reviewing the case concluded that one felony charge was sufficient and an amended count was filed charging Deleskey with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm a number of times from Oct. 14, 2010, to Dec. 4, 2011.

Walter McKee, Deleskey’s attorney, said his client couldn’t be charged 15 times “out of possession of one gun, even if it’s on different dates.”

McKee filed a written motion on Sept. 6 saying all but one of the counts should be dismissed.

McKee said he expects the remaining charges to be on the February trial list.

Deleskey has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

 

Kennebec Journal Staff Writer Betty Adams can be contacted at 621-5631 or at:

badams@mainetoday.com