DORCHESTER COUNTY, Md. - Maryland Natural Resources Police have charged state Department of Agriculture Secretary Andrew J. Bartenfelder Sr. with a bird hunting violation in Dorchester County.
Police said that on Nov. 24, officers were following up on a suspected baiting pond and discovered five people hunting about 80 yards away from a cornfield.
As a result, officers charged Bartenfelder Sr., 65, of Hurlock; his son, Andrew J. Bartenfelder Jr., 29, also of Hurlock; Tristian Michael, 25, of Caroline County; Sianna L. Graffious, 24, of Talbot County, and Cody R. Mack, 26, of Caroline County, with hunting wetland or upland game birds with the aid of bait or on or over any baited area. This charge carries a $500 payable fine with a maximum $1,500 fine for the first offense.
Maryland law defines bait as salt, grain, or other feed that has been placed or distributed in a way that could attract wild birds to or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them.
Bartenfelder Jr., was also charged with:
- Hunting wild waterfowl with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells ($250 payable fine with a maximum of $500 fine for first offense)
Graffious was also charged with:
- Required federal waterfowl stamp violation ($250 fine).
Mack was also charged with:
- Required federal waterfowl stamp violation ($250 fine)
Gov. Larry Hogan appointed Bartenfelder Sr. to serve as secretary of agriculture on Dec. 23, 2014. He was approved by the Senate and sworn in to office in March 2015. It is presumed that his role as secretary will end when Hogan's second term as governor ends in January and Democratic Gov.-elect Wes Moore takes over.
