Four men were fined a total of $16,000 for hunting big game without licences and tagging and hunter-safety violations.
Louis Diamandakos of Peterborough pleaded guilty to hunting big game without a licence, transporting illegally obtained wildlife, possessing a copy/counterfeit tag, possessing a loaded firearm on a conveyance, unlawfully enabling someone to use his tag and possessing a loaded and un-encased firearm at night. He was fined a total of $6,000.
Michael Diamandakos of Peterborough pleaded guilty to hunting big game without a licence, possessing a copy/counterfeit tag, possessing a loaded firearm on a conveyance, possessing a loaded firearm at night and hunting with a gun without a firearms licence. He was fined $4,500.
Eugene Gelsomino of Nobleton pleaded guilty to transporting illegally obtained wildlife, possessing illegally obtained wildlife and unlawfully enabling someone to use his tag. His total fine amounted to $2,500.
Sandy Gelsomino of Nobleton pleaded guilty to hunting big game without a licence, possessing a loaded and un-encased firearm at night, hunting with a gun without a firearms licence and possessing illegally obtained wildlife, and was fined a total of $3,000.
The court heard that on the evening of November 19, 2022, conservation officers were conducting a foot patrol in the vicinity of Coopers Falls Road near the Town of Gravenhurst. The patrol was in response to public complaints of gunshots after dark in that area during the previous deer hunting season in 2021. Well after legal hunting time that night, the officers contacted Louis and Michael Diamandakos driving ATVs in possession of three harvested untagged deer and a black bear. Each ATV also contained loaded firearms. Sandy and Eugene Gelsomino were contacted shortly after in the same area. Sandy Gelsomino was in possession of an un-encased loaded shotgun and did not have a firearms licence.
The subsequent investigation determined that Eugene Gelsomino possessed a deer licence valid for a different wildlife management unit than the one where he was hunting. He intended to unlawfully use this licence for one of the harvested deer. Both Sandy Gelsomino and Louis Diamandakos harvested an antlerless deer that day without a licence. Michael Diamandakos harvested the black bear without a licence and had intended to unlawfully use Louis Diamandakos’ bear licence to cover the bear.
It was also determined that Michael Diamandakos harvested a deer earlier that week and continued to hunt with a copy of his original tag which he produced to the officers that evening. Louis Diamandakos was also found to be in possession of a copy of his original deer hunting tag. The wildlife, copied tags and firearms were seized.
Justice of the Peace Maryan Hudswell heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Bracebridge, on July 19, 2023.
To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, please visit ontario.ca/mnrftips.
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Bonnie Burns says
MNR, why only $$$$ fines? The guns should have been confiscated and those that had firearms licenses, be banned from owning a weapon, for life. Wouldn’t that hit where it hurts? I wonder what region they will “target” this fall?
Dana Heintz says
Jail would have been better
Samantha Rut says
I gave my ex boyfriend a ride to his friends place. Didn’t know at the time but he went to buy a rifle. Actually they traded for weed, but anyway at the end of the day. I got charged with unlawful possession, possession without authority and threatened 10 yrs jail. Did almost a year house arrest, 2yrs probation, 10yr weapon ban etc. Wish I got off with a slap on the wrist fine for something I didn’t know I was doing. You atleast knew you shouldn’t of been hunting.
William P Taylor says
As a 40yr+ hunter this is more than appalling!! Fines jail and hunting with no PALs is a jailable offense!!
I went without last year due to all the weather. We rely on this meat to feed our family ( mom dad son n his young family and my daughter!) At $42/kg for meat we are already licensed up and preparing for a long intensive hunt as we don’t take does w/ fawns nor younglings. Yet these PEOPLE( All entitled greek/Italian ) just take what they want! Lifetime bans on firearms and hinting as well as maximum jail time… I struggle very hard with a rare RA to hunt and must walk a mile to get to my stand ! These theives ride atvs and don’t follow any rules…. Their punishment DOES NOT fit their crimes
Justin stothers says
Not gonna lie. Seeing that they only got fines is rather irritating. There’s zero respect for animal life. For the sport or necessity of hunting. Obviously there’s zero accountability for the fact they didn’t have fire Arms licenses. They had loaded weapons. They were out at night. They were transporting loaded weapons. And all they got was fines? All these city people. Or anyone with some money can come up here and do whatever they want and theres no consequences as long as they pay. But if anyone local was to do anything like this, there wouldn’t be fines. There would be charges.. how are there zero weapons charges when they are carrying around loaded weapons. Driving with loaded weapons. And they have no authority to even carry a weapon? And they get off with a little cash fine? The justice system is a joke. I sent a text message out of anger and was looking at 5 years. Got slapped with a year of probation and a conditional sentence over a first time offense but as someone who has a career where no record is required for almost every employer except the shady ones. my entire life is screwed up… and all they got was a fine? Lololol must be nice to get off so lucky and be able to do what they want as long as they can afford the $ because apparently there’s zero accountability for what they did other then a monetary fine.. what a joke.
Justin stothers says
Just gonna leave this here
Unauthorized possession of firearm
91 (1) Subject to subsection (4) [unauthorized possession of firearm or weapon – exceptions], every person commits an offence who possesses a prohibited firearm, a restricted firearm or a non-restricted firearm without being the holder of
(a) a licence under which the person may possess it; and
(b) in the case of a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm, a registration certificate for it.
Unauthorized possession of prohibited weapon or restricted weapon
(2) Subject to subsection (4) [unauthorized possession of firearm or weapon – exceptions], every person commits an offence who possesses a prohibited weapon, a restricted weapon, a prohibited device, other than a replica firearm, or any prohibited ammunition, without being the holder of a licence under which the person may possess it.
Punishment
(3) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) [unauthorized possession of firearm – offence] or (2) [unauthorized possession of prohibited weapon or restricted weapon – offence]
(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or
(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
Unless they deem this as a summary conviction which means it’s literally a slap on the wrist and no worse then disturbing the peace.. just with a bigger fine.. if thats the case.. why don’t we all go out and get guns without licenses and start hunting without licenses?? I mean if they can do it why can’t we right? <<<sarcasm, but Thats essentially what this punishment is telling us… it's not that big of a deal.. right??
No matter how you look at it. They were POACHING. They weren't hunting. They don't respect the rules of the hunt the laws for weapons or the animals life. They are poachers. Not hunters. Plain and simple.