EVANS CITY — A Butler County deer processor has been charged with 28 violations of the state's Game and Wildlife Code for possessing unlawfully taken deer and illegally selling wild game from his business.

He also is accused of taking some processed venison for himself from hunters and from donated meat earmarked for needy families.

William Kielty III, 60, who operates Bill's Deer Processing out of a garage behind his Evans City home on Mars-Evans City Road, could face up to $22,700 in fines and the possible loss of his hunting and trapping privileges for up to 65 years.

Charges were filed Feb. 21 by state Game Commission officers with District Judge Wayne Seibel.

That included eight counts of unlawfully taking or possession of wildlife or game, 19 counts of illegally buying and selling game and one count of unlawful acts concerning licenses for illegally using the deer harvest tag of another individual.

A more than yearlong investigation began in the fall of 2006 by state Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer Randy Pilarcik, who serves the southern district of Butler County, and deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer Scott Klopfer.

The investigators had received numerous complaints from individuals that Kielty was accepting illegally harvested and untagged deer and then selling the meat.

"Kielty had been operating his deer processing business in the garage behind his house for years," said Pilarcik in a news release. "About a decade ago, Kielty pleaded guilty to having illegal and untagged deer."

The investigation found evidence Kielty was taking deer that were taken illegally, as well as picking up and failing to report roadkill deer.

He also is accused of stealing and selling meat from legally harvested deer he was processing from hunters.

Kielty, who was enrolled in the Share the Harvest program for needy families, is accused to keeping some of the hunter-donated deer for himself or to sell. Authorities said he would then forward the remainder to food banks and soup kitchens.

"This man stands accused of stealing from hard-working hunters, both their venison and their money, and, sadly, people in need," said Pilarcik.