Criminal Trespass
South Slough, CCSO release – On July 29th Dispatch personnel were able to locate the lost mushroom picker by plotting his cellular phone as darkness closed. The plotting put the lost person near the end of Cottell Lane and the Sunset Bay Golf Course. at approximately 8:00 pm the Coos County Sheriff’s office dispatch and Sheriff’s Deputies were alerted regarding a lost mushroom picker. The lost person had called and notified family members he was lost near the South Slough Sanctuary. At approximately 9:00 pm the individual, later identified as Norman Kohl Jr. 56 years of age of Coos Bay was located. Upon investigation by the deputy it was determined Mr. Kohl had trespassed onto private property with the intent to harvest mushrooms illegally on private property. The trespass was captured earlier in the day by remote cellular cameras placed about the property. Mr. Kohl was transported from the property and issued multiple citations in lieu of arrest; over six pounds of various strains of mushrooms were seized from his person. The street value of the seized mushrooms was approximately $37.00. The citations issued to Mr. Kohyl were for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, Theft in the Third Degree and Unlawful Harvest of minor forest product. All of these charges are misdemeanors. The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind individuals as mushroom season begins to have knowledge of the area where they are picking, to have written permission and/or consent if the activity is to occur on private lands. It is also required to have permits while harvesting mushrooms and other minor forest products if they are intended for resale.
