JUSTICE COURT: Alleged deer hunter’s hearing continued
A 26-year-old Fallon man facing charges of illegally shooting a deer in January had his case continued 30 days on Thursday in Justice Court.
Chad Ryan Blumhagen was charged with killing an animal without tags, unlawful waste of a mammal and trespassing for the Jan. 7 incident. The killing an animal charge can be either a felony or gross misdemeanor, depending on the judge’s ruling.
The unlawful waste and trespassing charges are misdemeanors.
According to the criminal complaint, Blumhagen shot a male deer during a hunting outing near Desert View Drive. Records also allege he shot a Canada goose. After he shot the deer, Blumhagen then allegedly cut off the antlers, drawing the unlawful waste charge.
In addition to those charges, Blumhagen was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon, a felony, for driving his pickup truck at Delbert Lupt.
According to Churchill County Deputy District Attorney Ben Shawcroft, Blumhagen stopped on Lupt’s property, and Lupt went outside to check the commotion. Blumhagen then allegedly drove his truck toward Lupt.
Blumhagen faces up to six years in prison for the assault; one to four years in prison or one year in jail for the killing of an animal without tags; and up to six months in jail for the four misdemeanors.