WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Two of the three teenagers facing multiple charges for allegedly poaching and shining deer and racoons in Waupaca and Portage counties pleaded not guilty Tuesday.
Ian Johnson, 18, and Landan Fuhs, 17, each face four misdemeanor criminal counts, plus multiple citations. No trial dates were set.
The third suspect, Ethan Lashua, 18, previously pleaded not guilty. He returns to court Jan. 9 for a status conference, court records show.
The three are charged with hunting during closed season and illegally shining. Johnson and Lashua are also facing a charge of obstructing a conservation warden.
The criminal complaint said an investigation began Sept. 23 after someone reported hearing multiple shots, believed to be from a handgun, in the area along Elm Valley Road, south of Scandanavia.
A week later, on Sept. 30, a tip was called into a Wisconsin DNR violation hotline. The caller said the occupants of a red car were observed shooting an antlerless deer in a soybean field on the corner of County Highway V and North Foley Road. The witness was able to get a partial license plate number.
Authorities connected the car to Fuhs who, during an interview with investigators, admitted to shining and shooting at multiple deer and racoons. Fuhs told investigators he used a pistol to shoot at approximately 12-15 deer since spring 2025. He believed he only hit 3-5 of the animals, recovering two of them.
The criminal complaint said Fuhs admitted he knew what he was doing was wrong. Officials added, “that as a coyote hunter who uses thermal/night vision when hunting, he commonly sees deer at night and often times they walk near to him. In addition, he stated he ‘wasn’t thinking’ when he does this and often regrets doing it right after he ‘pulls the trigger’”.
While Fuhs said he was alone during some of these incidents, he also said Johnson and Lashua were with him on other occasions.
During questing, Johnson said he shot no deer, but did admit to shooting at over dozen racoons. Lashua said he was never around when the animals were shot, but then contradicted his story.
The complaint said:
“Lashua stated he had been along “0” times with Fuhs when he shot at deer. Johnson stated he had been along with Fuhs “2” times when Fuhs shot at deer. Johnson said they were driving around and Fuhs asked Johnson if he should shoot the deer, and Johnson told him ‘you do you’. Lashua again confirmed he had been along on “0” deer but was along for the Peterson Road deer. Lashua was informed it is the same to be along with someone even if someone else is ‘pulling the trigger’ unlawfully and Lashua said he was kind of aware of this but didn’t know for sure. When asked if this was leading to his hesitation to be honest, Lashua said ‘no’.”
