Two men are facing charges after conservation officers raided two southern Iowa homes and recovered parts of several animals believed to have been illegally taken in Iowa and Missouri. Officer Marc Roberg says it began with the report of a headless deer found near Kellerton last October. Roberg says his investigation led him to a Missouri conservation officer who was investigating 24-year-old Jason Lee. They obtained a warrant and searched the house he lived in near Kellerton.He says they found several deer mounts in the home. He says Lee had taken the deer with both Iowa and Missouri licenses, which is illegal. Roberg says there’s some question as to where Lee actually lives. All total, Roberg says Lee is charged with 18 counts of unlawful possession of deer, 27 counts of unlawful possession of turkey and one count of unlawful possession of fish. He says it looked like Lee like to kill things to collect their antlers. Roberg says they also found various parts of turkeys at the home and some turkey meat in the freezer. He says Lee could end up paying a big fine. He says fines and damages could total more than 45-thousand dollars. Roberg says charges were also filed against 21-year-old Charles Giles of rural Kellerton, after illegal deer linked to Lee were found at his home. Giles was charged with two counts of making false claims to obtain a license, two counts of unlawful possession of deer and one count of unlawful taking deer. Roberg says the tip from the public really helped solve this case. He says the shooting of deer that’re left laying on the ground in southern Iowa has reached “epidemic” proportion. He says it has become so common most people don’t even report it when they see a dead deer. Roberg says charges are also pending against Lee and Giles in Missouri.
