A former Ohio man accused of shooting at a game warden in Pennsylvania that he thought was a coyote has pleaded guilty to multiple crimes.
Roman Kartsev, 44, who previously lived on Columbus’ Far North Side, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in Pike County, Pennsylvania, according to court records. Kartsev now lives in New York, according to court records.
On Nov. 25, Kartsev and another man from New York were in a wooded area near the New York state line. Court records show a game warden and deputy game warden were in the area on the first day of deer rifle season . The game warden heard bullets flying close by as he and his deputy spoke with another hunter, an affidavit says.
The warden was able to get inside his cruiser and turn on the siren, which resulted in the gunfire stopping almost immediately, according to court documents.
The warden and his deputy went to the area where the gunshots had come from, court records say, and found Kartsev and the other man. Kartsev was wearing an orange hat and body armor — which he said was in case another hunter shot at him — and was carrying a pistol. The other man was wearing an orange vest and ballistic helmet and carrying an AK47-style rifle.