Men get probation for poisoning 25 birds at Lawrence County farm

Two men convicted of poisoning 25 migrating birds four years ago will each serve one year of federal probation.

Robert Yost, 51, of New Galilee, Beaver County, and Jacob Reese, 26, of Enon Valley, Lawrence County, were sentenced in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Yost, the owner of Yost Farms, and Reese, who worked for him, were found guilty earlier this year of conspiracy, unlawful use of a restricted pesticide and unlawful killing of migratory birds by Judge W. Scott Hardy following a bench trial in 2022.

They were charged after State Game Commission Officer Byron Gibbs found the birds near wetlands on a Lawrence County farm in the summer of 2020. The fallen flock consisted of 17 Canadian geese, seven red-winged blackbirds and a female mallard duck.

Yost leased the land for over 16 years from the Edwards family. The government said that he and Reese spread poisoned corn along the area to try to stop the damage geese had been causing to his soybean crop.

The Edwards family found the dead birds and called the Game Commission.

During his statement Yost, said that the charges damaged his reputation.

“It’s humbling. It’s embarrassing,” said Steve Colafella, Yost’s defense attorney.

On Wednesday, the judge sentenced Robert Yost to one year probation, 100 hours of community service and a total of $21,000 in fines. Reese was sentenced to one year probation, 50 hours of community service and $5,500 in fines.

Colafella called three witnesses to testify on Yost’s behalf. Amanda Lynn McDowell, who sold him corn for the last three years, John Nicely, his uncle, and his cousin Jennifer Pullar. They testified that he was a proud family man and community member.

“Rob has been that constant calm,” Pullar said. “When it comes to Rob there are probably three words … God, family and country.”

Yost said he took pride in his family business which had been running for 60 years.

The judge said Yost did not take responsibility for the dangers from the poison.

“It’s baffling to me what would be done to protect a small amount of crops,” Hardy said.

During Reese’s sentencing, defense attorney Steve Townsend did not call any witnesses.

Reese declined to make a statement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Brown said that Reese spread the poison in broad daylight and left carcasses of dead animals behind.

The Edwards family wrote letters to the court stating the disrespect they felt from the poisoning. The letters said that Yost and Reese’s actions had “an emotionally negative impact,” on their family.

The judge stated that Reese, despite being subordinate to Yost, should have known better. He said that while he appreciated Reese’s sense of loyalty, he was an adult and could make his own choices.

“I know that you’re a relatively young guy,” Hardy said. “Wrong is wrong and sometimes you need to stand up.”