Midcoast lobsterman charged with cutting traps
8/12/09 | 8 comments

Midcoast lobsterman charged with cutting traps


By BDN Staff

CUSHING, Maine - A Midcoast man faces charges after he allegedly cut 22 lobster traps in two separate areas from a 14' aluminum boat.

Police say Heath Yeaton, 31, of Cushing was alone at the time of the alleged trap cutting incident on Tuesday afternoon.

Yeaton fishes with his father, Bradley Yeaton, 52, also of Cushing.

Heath Yeaton's boat was seized by the Marine Patrol and he has been charged with two counts of trap molesting.

Trap molesting, by statute is a civil violation, but if proven carries a mandatory 3-year loss of lobster and crab fishing license and the ability to assist any lobster license holder as a crew member.

The stepped-up patrols came in response to recent lobster fishing disputes and trap cutting complaints.

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Comments
8 comments on this item
On 8/12/09 at 4:52 PM, 5forfightin wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Someone finally dropped a dime on these animals.

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On 8/12/09 at 6:49 PM, oliverhillresident wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

use some of that rope he has been cutting,and hang him(or was there no rope involved) in that case,put him in a trap and drown him

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On 8/12/09 at 8:22 PM, captainandy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Not so fast.

It's also possible that he has been getting cut and was fighting back.

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On 8/12/09 at 9:10 PM, TMC3P0 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Thats the problem Captain Andy...in the rest of Maine we are required not to take the law into our own hands. What is it with these fishermen?

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On 8/12/09 at 9:52 PM, hokydad wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

another uneducated hick with no balls

get rid if the trash

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On 8/12/09 at 10:04 PM, captainandy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

TMC3PO,

I've experienced it. I'm not condoning it. It's simply "the way it is".

There are about 40 Marine Patrol Officers covering the whole state; 2000+ miles of coastline with 7,000 lobstermen.

If 2 or 3 guys decide to target and cut your traps, they can put you out of business in a matter of days. The Marine Patrol CAN'T help you.

You HAVE to "work" it out for yourself.

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On 8/13/09 at 7:13 AM, hokydad wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

i guess not because this piece of trash is going to jail and is out of business

no wonder everyone hates the family

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On 8/13/09 at 8:37 AM, TMC3P0 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I understand Andy...but taking the law into their own hands is not the answer. We don't hear about hunting trappers disabling other trappers traps. Maybe we can cross train some of the game wardens to be marine patrol officers.

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