Fishermen caught cheating indicted on felony charges

The two fishermen who were caught cheating in a competition in Ohio last month were indicted on Wednesday. Jon Stinchcomb/News Herald via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Fishermen caught cheating at Ohio tournament indicted on felony charges

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 10/12/22

The two fishermen who were caught cheating in a competition in Ohio last month were indicted on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Jacob Runyan and Chase Cominsky were indicted in Cleveland on felony charges of attempted grand theft, cheating and possessing criminal tools. They were also indicted on misdemeanor charges of "unlawfully owning wild animals."

FISHERMAN INDICTED:
Jacob Runyan, 42, and Chase Cominsky, 35, for Cheating, Attempted Grand Theft, Possessing Criminal Tools, and the Unlawful Ownership of Wild Animals during the Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament in September 2022. @wkyc
— Emma Henderson (@EmmaHendersonTV) October 12, 2022

Runyan and Cominsky made the national news cycle when footage emerged of the angling duo being caught stuffing their fish with lead weights and other dead fish in order to win nearly $29,000 in prize money. (Warning: Video contains inappropriate language.)

Professional Fishermen Caught Cheating at Lake Erie Walleye Tournament pic.twitter.com/4Oc7tmfGAC
— Captain Jim James (@JimJame74888138) October 1, 2022

This was the second time this year the fishing pair have been accused of cheating in a walleye tournament. They were investigated by police in Rossford, Ohio, back in April, but there was reportedly not enough evidence in that instance to charge either man.

Runyan and Cominsky are scheduled to be arraigned on October 26.

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