Maryland agriculture secretary charged with illegal bird hunting

Maryland’s agriculture secretary was charged on Thanksgiving for illegally hunting waterfowl in Dorchester County, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police. Police charged Joseph Bartenfelder for hunting wetland or upland game birds “with the aid of bait or on or over any baited area,” which carries a minimum $500 fine and a maximum of $1500 for a first offense. Lauren Moses, public information officer for Natural Resources Police, could not say whether this was Bartenfelder’s first charge.