Expensive deer killed, injured, stolen in Lawrence County

NEW CASTLE

A 22-year-old Ellwood City man is facing felony charges of criminal mischief, attempted theft, agricultural vandalism.

Thomas E. Braunbeck was charged Friday and also is facing charges of possessing an instrument of crime and criminal trespass.

He is accused of going to Broken H Deer Farm in Wayne Township in November, cutting the fence and shooting two bucks, killing one. Braunbeck is accused of then taking the dead deer and fleeing the area, allowing a third buck to escape, according to reports.

The stolen dead buck was valued at $14,000 and the wounded buck was valued at $25,000, police said.

Braunbeck, Jeremy M. McChesney, 24, of Ellwood City, and Joshua G. McChesney, 26, of Pittsburgh, are accused of confronting, intimidating and attempting to assault a witness to the crime and are facing several charges related to that.