FWC Charges Three With Poaching Deer Near Walnut Hill

February 19, 2024

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has charged three people with poaching deer in the Walnut Hill area.

FWC officers issued notices to appear for the charge of taking wildlife from the right of way of a county- maintained road to Amber Nicole Aceto, 28, and Timothy Tyler Moore, 30, both of Pensacola, and Brendan Christian Bell, 25, of Century. Timothy Tyler Moore received an additional charge for the willful and wanton waste of wildlife.

An FWC officer responded to a report from an individual who heard what sounded like a gunshot and discovered an injured deer near their home. When the officer arrived, the couple who called in the report led him to an area adjacent to the side of the road where an 8-point deer lay with a large exit wound to its back. The couple gave the officer a description of a suspect vehicle and its occupants as well as the tag number.

The officer contacted the driver of the vehicle, Moore, and met with him later that day. Moore admitted to shooting the deer from his vehicle when he saw it standing in the roadway. He stated that his girlfriend, Aceto, drove up to the deer and another friend, Bell, helped him drag the wounded deer off the road and into the ditch before they quickly left the area.

FWC said their investigation revealed that the three had been poaching at night during the prior week in the Walnut Hill area of Escambia County. They killed four additional deer from paved county roads in the area using a gun and light. Each of the three took part in poaching at least one deer and assisted in taking the others. The officers recovered two high-powered rifles and a bright flashlight the suspects used in addition to the four deer heads.

“The good citizens who reported what they saw and heard helped us stop these poachers from committing additional crimes against Florida’s wildlife,” said FWC Maj. Robby Creech, Northwest Regional Commander.

Additional charges against all three subjects followed and were filed by warrant affidavit.

Timothy Tyler Moore was charged with:

  • An additional four counts of taking or attempting to take wildlife from the right of way of any county-maintained road.
  • Four counts of taking or attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light.
  • Two counts of discharging a firearm from any paved public road.
  • One count of littering, over 15 pounds but less than 500 pounds.
  • Two counts of possession of a firearm while subject to a domestic violence injunction.
  • Moore was also issued citations for failure to report two deer taken during archery season.

Amber Nicole Aceto was charged with:

  • An additional four counts of taking or attempting to take wildlife from the right of way of any county-maintained road.
  • Four counts of taking or attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light.
  • One count of discharging a firearm from any paved public road.

Brendan Christian Bell was charged with:

  • An additional four counts of taking or attempting to take wildlife from the right of way of any county-maintained road.
  • Four counts of taking or attempting to take deer at night with a gun and light.
  • One count of discharging a firearm from any paved public road.
  • One count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Editor’s note: Recent mugshots were not available because FWC issued notices to appear rather than booking the suspects into the Escambia County Jail.

NorthEscambia.com photo.

Comments

7 Responses to “FWC Charges Three With Poaching Deer Near Walnut Hill”

  1. Mark on February 22nd, 2024 4:10 am

    Very mean hearted people here. To kill for food is acceptable, but to kill just because you think it’s fun. That’s evil. I hope they throw the book at these.

  2. Douglas on February 21st, 2024 12:08 am

    Dude at least take the dang deer if you’re going to kill it. Why waste its life like that? If you take the deer, you probably less likely to get caught AND you got deer meat, AND you didn’t completely disrespect the deer and take it’s life for nothing.

  3. derek on February 20th, 2024 11:43 pm

    I appreciate the investigation and arrests. However, next time please take this to the duty judge, issue warrants and take these offenders to jail. Chances are their parents will hire attorneys, plea their charges down and pay their fines! They need to learn a hard lesson with handcuffs and a trip to jail!

  4. Bill L. on February 20th, 2024 9:15 am

    Great Job FWC and to the homeowner poaching runs rampart in this area a lot of it done by the locals. Now if our Judicial system will punish these multiple times offenders maybe it will send a message

  5. BGH2 on February 20th, 2024 7:08 am

    GREAT JOB to the HOMEOWNERS as well as the tireless efforts of the FWC to bring charges on these people! This gives those of us that do it the RIGHT/LEGAL way a bad name! A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL! Friday morning I was getting out of my truck , around 540, back near my hunting area(private land) and heard a shot back up towards the highway. I knew no one was in the area directly south of me because it’s my area and no one was hunting(signed in) to hunt the adjacent areas that morning. After the shot, I heard a vehicle speeding off. Legal shooting time on that day was 6:01am. These types who STEAL are a pitiful bunch. I just pray the judges do THEIR DADGUM JOB and make examples of these people. This is no different than going in a store and stealing/robbing them. Then, to just leave the animal there to die is about as low as one can get. If you are man/woman enough to do this then finish the job. Your laziness is what got yall caught which is a good thing. I just don’t see how some can illegally take game/fish and be proud of themselves. I bet your family is proud of you.

  6. EMD on February 19th, 2024 11:03 pm

    This makes me want to cry. How cruel, selfish, unfeeling and sad. I am already saddened by the wild boars lined up on the side of my road. What a waste and how disgusting a sight. If they were causing havoc on someone’s land, at least they could have been killed and left in the woods. Was reported and no feedback and still there days later.

  7. Oversight on February 19th, 2024 8:01 pm

    Notice to appear on felony charges?! Ever wonder why people are losing faith in the criminal justice system? Here’s your sign.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News