Two Men Charged With Spotlighting Deer in Sussex County
Sussex County, DE - On October 16, 2026, officers with the Delaware Natural Resources Police were on patrol along Peanut Tingle Road in Sussex County, DE. These officers are part of the agency's Fish and Wildlife Unit.
Officers noticed a vehicle moving at a very slow speed down the road. Someone inside was pointing a handheld light out over a farm field. Soon after, officers heard one gunshot. The sound came from where the vehicle was on the road.
Officers pulled the vehicle over. They took a .22 caliber rifle, a handheld spotlight, and several rounds of ammunition as evidence.
One empty shell casing was also among the items taken. A photo shared by police shows the rifle with a scope mounted on top, along with the spotlight, the ammunition, and two magazines.
Spotlighting means shining a bright light into a field or the woods at night to look for deer or other wildlife. It is one of the main charges both men now face.
Both men were charged and released on their own recognizance. This means they did not have to post bail, but they must come back for a court date at Justice of the Peace Court 3.
The first man is charged with Conspiracy Third Degree, Spotlighting, and Hunting Deer During Closed Season. He also faces charges of Hunting From a Motor Vehicle and Unlawfully Loaded Firearm in a Motor Vehicle.
His other charges are Discharge Firearm on Roadway, Unlicensed Hunting, and Prohibited Firearm for Deer Hunting. In total, he faces eight charges.
The second man faces many of the same charges. He is charged with Conspiracy Third Degree, Spotlighting, Hunting Deer During Closed Season, and Hunting From a Motor Vehicle.
He is also charged with Unlawfully Loaded Firearm in a Motor Vehicle and Unlicensed Hunting. Police added two more charges for him, Failure to Have Driving License in Possession and No Standing, Stopping on Roadway.
Only the first man faces the charges tied to firing a gun on the roadway and using a gun that is not allowed for deer hunting. Each man faces eight charges in all.
DE HB 59 Notice: Effective Oct 21, 2026, House Bill 59 no longer allows names or photos to be released in press releases or news articles in Delaware. Therefore, with this being a Delaware case, no name or photo has been provided.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
