Lancaster men plead guilty to spotlighting in night hunt

Two Lancaster men charged with illegal night hunting in December pleaded guilty and have a choice of 20 days in jail or paying a fine, according to prosecutors and court records.

Robert Sapp, 52, and James Scott, 53, both of Lancaster – who were caught using a spotlight by state wildlife agents – each pleaded guilty to illegal use of a light to observe or harass wildlife, said Melissa Heimbaugh, the 6th Circuit assistant solicitor who prosecuted the cases.

The men were spotted by state Department of Natural Resources agents on patrol using the light in a field in northern Lancaster County near the North Carolina state line, Heimbaugh said, and had in their possession a rifle and ammunition that is illegal at night.

The vehicle the men were in had a light bar on it that was used for “sweeping” or “shining” the field, Heimbaugh said.

Both men were sentenced to a $100 fine or 20 days in jail.

This story was originally published June 6, 2016 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Lancaster men plead guilty to spotlighting in night hunt."