A Warsaw Police Officer charged with illegally baiting deer has entered into a pre-trial diversion agreement meaning he will not be charged for the incident.

Ryan Moore was charged by Indiana Conservation Officer Jon Cook with a class C misdemeanor for baiting deer. The charge came on Oct. 11 when Cook was called by a property owner in Milford who found the baited tree stands both before and after archery season began on Oct. 1.

On Oct. 11, officer Cook located Moore and one another man hunting from two of three tree stands Moore had set on the property at 1300 North, Milford. Cook reportedly found a fresh pile of grain/corn near one of the stands and a substance known as Black Magic Deer Cocaine near a second stand.

Cook’s report noted Moore knew the baiting was wrong and took full blame for it, claiming the second man had no knowledge of it.

Moore was scheduled for an initial hearing in Kosciusko County Superior Court II on Dec. 4, but according to court records, the officer has agreed to the following terms to avoid further legal action: He will pay a total of $220, complete 20 hours of community service and surrender his hunting license for one year. Moore must also refrain from being charged with any criminal violation or infraction for a period of one year.

Moore was facing a class C misdemeanor which, in Indiana, can carry a jail term of not more than 60 days and a fine up to $500.

Moore has been an officer with WPD since November 2009.