WAYCROSS — Two Brown County men have been charged with misdemeanor theft for digging ginseng in Yellowwood State Forest. One of them also had drugs and drug paraphernalia with him, conservation officers said.
Indiana conservation officers Brent Bohbrink and Lance LaBonte were driving on Richards Road on Sept. 22 when they came upon a green Jeep parked in a pull-off, with no one in or around it. They walked the woods near it and heard voices, and came upon Jason Whetstine and Kenneth Hunter, LaBonte’s report said.
Hunter, 31 of Salt Creek Road, was carrying a shovel; Whetstine, 45, of State Road 135 North, was carrying a black bag, the report said. They told LaBonte they were “just walking around,” but when LaBonte saw a ginseng plan in Whetstine’s pocket, they admitted they were digging ginseng.
It is illegal to harvest ginseng on state property; and to buy, sell or possess ginseng out of season without written authorization from the Department of Natural Resources. The DNR keeps a list of authorized dealers. For 2017, none are in Brown County.
LaBonte confiscated a screwdriver and 10 ginseng roots from Whetstine’s pockets and a screwdriver and 10 ginseng roots from Hunter’s pockets. The officer asked what was in the black bag, and Whetstine said it was his medicine, the report said. He told LaBonte it also contained marijuana, the report said.
Hunter was issued a summons to appear in court for theft of ginseng from state property. Whetstine was issued a summons for the same charge, as well as damaging or collecting plants from state property, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, all misdemeanors.
