Fishing cheat scandal duo plead not responsible in case over competitors’s $28,000 prime prize

Jacob Runyan, 42, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, and Chase Cominsky, 35, of Hermitage, Pa., made no feedback throughout their temporary courtroom appearances in Cleveland. Their attorneys declined to remark in regards to the case after the listening to.

Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor James Gutierrez additionally declined to remark, referring inquiries to a spokesperson.

The dishonest allegations surfaced Sept. 30 when Lake Erie Walleye Path event director Jason Fischer grew to become suspicious as a result of Runyan and Cominsky’s fish had been considerably heavier than walleye of that size sometimes are. An offended crowd at Gordon Park in Cleveland watched Fischer reduce the walleye open and announce there have been weights and fish fillets stuffed inside them.

An officer from the Ohio Division of Pure Assets confiscated the fish as proof.

Runyan and Cominsky had been indicted earlier this month on felony fees of dishonest, tried grand theft, possessing prison instruments and misdemeanor fees of unlawfully proudly owning wild animals.

Each had been launched Wednesday on private bonds of $2,500.

The primary place prize within the event totaled round $28,000.