Two Butler County hunters face criminal charges for their roles in a 2010 case in which two bears were illegally harvested in the same season.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission last week accused Shawn M. Myers, 37, of Karns City with killing a sow and her cub on Nov. 20, 2010, in Clarion County.

Myers’ hunting license was suspended at the time.

Additionally, Myers’ stepfather, Steven R. Rider, 55, of Karns City, is accused of taking the carcasses for Myers to a bear harvest check station in Butler County that day.

The game commission on Nov. 19 and Nov. 20 charged Myers and Rider, respectively, with two misdemeanor counts each of taking big game beyond season limits.

Both suspects and a third hunter, David P. Mikulski, 34, of Bruin, face other summary charges linked to the same case.

“It took so long because we were waiting for more information to keep building our case,” Arthur “Chip” Brunst, a wildlife conservation officer with the game commission, said.

Brunst has been investigating the suspected illegal bear kill for nearly two years since an informant tipped off authorities.

“The informant was aware that Myers shot the bears while he was on license revocation,” Brunst said. “We were told the bears were shot and killed near Kissinger Mills Road in Madison Township, Clarion County.”

The tip, he noted, was checked and eventually verified.

“Myers shot the bears and brought them back to Butler County,” Brunst said. “Rider loaded them in his vehicle and took both to the check station at Moraine State Park.”

The carcasses were tagged under the names of Milkulski and another hunter who has since died because Myers’ did not have a legal license, according to court documents.

Myers’ license was suspended, Brunst said, for shooting an extra deer during archery season in 2009.

The investigation led Brunst on Dec. 15, 2010, to a deer cutting and smokehouse operation in Lawrence County, where he seized 10 pounds of bear meat listed in Myers’ name.

Another game commission officer learned that Myers that same day had been to a Lawrence County taxidermist and left with two bear hides, documents said.

Brunst said he got a search warrant for Myers’ home, but could not find any hides.

The suspect, documents said, did not provide any information about the whereabouts of the two bears he allegedly shot.

Rider has denied any wrongdoing, Brunst said.

Each criminal offense carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $3,000 fine.

Meanwhile, Myers and Rider face other summary charges that could result in additional fines.

Brunst cited Myers for hunting with a suspended license, and Rider for providing false information to authorities.

Mikulski was cited for lending his wildlife kill tag to another hunter.