Two arrested in multi-county vandalism, poaching case

Authorities announced that two people have been arrested in connection with a string of vandalism incidents in Blaine and Chouteau counties that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage and is linked to the shooting of a deer, all occurring late Aug. 17 or early Aug. 18.

Jasper Wendland, 19, and Devon Nelson, 18, both were served warrants out of both Blaine and Chouteau counties, Blaine County Sheriff John Colby said Thursday.

Both Wendland and Nelson were charged in Blaine County with five felony counts of criminal mischief pecuniary loss more than $1,500, or alternatively by accountability, and two misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief pecuniary loss less than $1,500. Felony damages were to farm equipment and materials owned by Gasvoda family of Lone Tree Cattle Company, including a several-hundred thousand dollar crop sprayer, a truck set up to haul and pump water, a trailer with multiple broken spray totes and the spray spilled on the ground, as well as a semitractor-trailer that was found almost 14 miles from where it had been parked the previous day. And a tractor leased by Blaine County had windows shot out. The two misdemeanor charges were for fences damaged on two separate properties.

Nelson was also charged with four misdemeanor hunting-related charges for hunting or fishing during closed season, waste of game animal, game fish or game bird-person responsible for death, unlawful use of vehicle while hunting and unlawful use of equipment while hunting. Wendland was charged for the same crimes by accountability. These charges relate to a mule deer doe that was shot and killed spotlighting after dark. The doe was left where it was killed.

Colby said the total damages in the Blaine County charges are likely around $500,000.

Both men were charged in Chouteau County with one count of felony criminal mischief pecuniary loss more than $1,500, or alternatively by accountability for damages to a skid-steer and a tractor belonging to Chris Boyce.

Chouteau County Attorney Stephen Gannon said that they will likely have separate trials for each county even though the charges came from the same overnight vandalism spree.

Charging documents say that Blaine County Sheriff's Office the morning of Aug. 18 received a report of vandalism that occurred in several locations along Clear Creek and Lloyd roads located in Blaine and Chouteau counties, and the same morning Chouteau County Sheriff's Office received a report of damages to a skid-steer and tractor on Clear Creek Road.

Blaine County documents detail an investigation by multiple agencies collecting evidence at multiple scenes along with video footage from Bear Paw School and Beaver Creek Park of a suspicious silver Oldsmobile Bravada, which was later tracked to the Wendland home, and incriminating cellphone call logs and text messages between Wendland and Nelson.

The Chouteau County documents say that on Aug. 26 Nelson was interviewed by Fish, Wildlife and Parks warden Brady Murphy and Havre Assistant Police Chief D.J. Reichelt. In that interview Nelson said he and Wendland took a drive on Clear Creek Road to check the Wendland family cabin in an SUV that matched the vehicle on the video footage.

Nelson stated that Wendland did the damage to the skidsteer and tractor and confirmed that they stopped at the school.

The documents say Wendland admitted to being in the area in a silver Oldsmobile Bravada. Documents go on to say that cellphone data, collected by permission from the defendants, placed the two at each of the scenes of vandalism and in locations caught on surveillance cameras.

Blaine County documents say that Nelson admitted to shooting from the vehicle the deer, which was found between two vandalism sites, but he said he did not commit any acts of vandalism. The document states Nelson said "he does not know how to run tractors, but Jasper Wendland was a farmer and he knew how to run equipment."

Both defendants are out on bond.

Gannon said both Wendland and Nelson were allowed post $10,000 bond each on the charges from both counties, on conditions that include no drinking or drug use while released and they must wear ankle bracelets so their movements can be tracked.

Colby in the release thanked Chouteau County Sheriff's Office, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Blaine County Attorney's Office, Chouteau County Attorney's Office, The Tri-Agency Task Force, Hill County Sheriff's Office, Havre Police Department and Beaver Creek Park administration who all "worked quickly and effectively to bring this incident to a close," adding that he thanked the victims and the community for their patience while the investigation was completed.