Leisure World employee pleads guilty-poaching & loaded crossbow

Leisure World of Maryland employee caught poaching deer - pleads guilty to 2 counts including transporting a loaded cross bow

By Point Blank©-slk

While walking his dog early morning on Nov. 1, 2019, Leisure World resident Woody Shields spotted a deer poacher with a loaded crossbow in the woods surrounding the Leisure World golf course. Shields reported what he had seen to Leisure World security and the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources police. Afterwards, he posted the following on a local online bulletin board:

Woodrow Shields, Leisure World

" Deer Poacher Caught at Leisure World

This morning (11/1) at 8:00 am while walking our dog, I observed a man sitting at the base of a tree behind Overlook. When I was 10 yards away, the man stood up and I observed a crossbow on the ground loaded with a bolt with a silver broadhead. I stated, “You are not allowed to hunt here.” He relied, “This place has too many deer.” I took photos with my iPhone of the man and the crossbow. The man asked, “Are you taking my picture?” I replied, “Yes.” The man returned to the tree, picked up the crossbow, and placed the loaded crossbow in the back of the maintenance golf cart. I asked, “Who gave you permission to hunt here?” He did not reply. I asked the question two additional times. Upon the third time, he stated, “No one.” The man then got into the maintenance golf cart and drove away with the loaded crossbow in the back of the vehicle.

I called security at the main gate and reported the event. They requested I bring the photos to the main gate. At the main gate office, they reported Leisure World Security located the individual, an employee of golf maintenance.

DNR police responded and the individual was criminally cited."

Attached is the photo of the loaded crossbow ... photo by Woody Shields

Attached is a photo of John Bassett picking up the crossbow - photo by Woody Shields

On Nov. 8, 2019, John Steven Bassett pleaded GUILTY to (2) Department of Natural Resources citations:

1. Hunting on private land without written permission ($477.50 + $22.50 court costs)
2. Possession of a loaded crossbow in vehicle ($277.50 + $22.50 court costs)

Though Shields had called upon the Leisure World "leadership: to take "strong, decisive action", the Board of Directors did nothing.

The Leisure World of Maryland Corp. Employee Handbook states
EMPLOYEE CONDUCT:
To ensure orderly operations and provide the best possible work environment, employees are expected to follow rules of conduct that are intended to protect the interests and safety of the residents, vendors, clients, guests, other employees, and LWMC.
It is not possible to list all forms of behavior that are considered unacceptable in the workplace.
The following are some examples of infractions that may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
Conversion of company property for personal use
Violation of safety or health rules
Possession of dangerous or unauthorized materials, as explosives or firearms, in the workplace
Violation of operational policies and procedures
Unsatisfactory performance or conduct

Ignoring the outraged and frightened Leisure World residents demand for Leisure World golf course maintenance employee John S. Bassett's immediate termination of employment:

Leisure World General Manager, Kevin Flannery --

deemed John Steven Bassett deserved a mere "slap on the wrist" i.e. 2 weeks leave w/out pay.

Submitted on behalf of the Writers of Leisure World club, Woody Shields wrote the following for publication in the Leisure World News.

Shields was censored and denied publication:

"Woody Shields described in “See Something, Say Something” an encounter with a deer poacher on the Leisure World golf course. “Ethical hunters have a strong tradition of self-policing by reporting poachers and safety violations. Poachers are despised as they steal deer from all of us and give all hunters a bad name. In Pennsylvania, the names of game law violators are published in the local newspapers to deter others, an act of public shaming.”

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