The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a fugitive from Oregon wanted for allegedly sexually abusing two girls under the age of 14 was arrested this weekend in Appanoose County.
D-N-R spokesman Kevin Baskins says 45-year-old Gary Lynn Maytum was arrested by conservation officers and Appanoose County Sheriff’s deputies after they received a tip from the F-B-I. He says the arrest went down “without incident” at gunpoint as Maytum was considered armed and dangerous. Baskins says Maytum had been on the run for seven years and was found in a pole building on a piece of land in Appanoose County.
Baskins says Maytum’s love of hunting led to his eventual arrest, as the F-B-I knew he had a hunting acquaintance in Iowa. He says if you look at Maytum’s alias, “Bowman”, it indicated his love of bowhunting and Baskins says Maytum had traveled to many states in search of trophy animals. Maytum was in fact charged with making false claims in Iowa to obtain a hunting license and deer tags using the alias of Jerry Bowman. Maytum is being held without bond in the Appanoose County jail in Centerville.
In another unrelated case, five Pennsylvania men were arrested Saturday afternoon by the D-N-R on poaching charges. He says they got a call on their “Turn in Poachers” or “TIP” line about the activity of the group of men from Pennsylvania who were camping. He says they set up surveillance and determined the men had violated some fish and game laws.
Baskins says the men were arrested on I-80 in Cass County and their personal property including two all terrain vehicles and a trailer were seized. He says there were a number of different charges relating to illegal activities in bagging pheasants and deer.
The five ranged in age from 18 to 63 and all posted bond and were released. Baskins says the call about the suspicious activity was important. He says it’s exactly what they have the “TIP” line for and he says they encourage people to call the line. Baskins says you can call 800-532-2020 or your local conservation officer whenever you witness what you believe to be suspicious activity. The violations by the Pennsylvania man allegedly happened at the Elk Horn Creek Recreation Area in Shelby County.