CLEVELAND (WWJ) - It was a fishing tale was too good to be true for two anglers in Ohio who eventually fessed up on Monday to rigging a 2021 walleye fishing tournament to ensure they pocketed a $28,000 cash prize.
Jacob Runyan and Chase Cominsky appeared in court on March 27 and pled guilty to cheating, a fifth-degree felony, and a fourth-degree misdemeanor of unlawful ownership of wild animals stemming from the scandal discovered by tournament coordinators last year.
In the plea deal, Cuyahoga County prosecutors dropped the felony charges of attempted theft and possession of criminal tools in exchange for recommending a sentence of six months on probation.
The men also agreed to a three-year suspension of their fishing licenses and forfeited Cominsky's Ranger bass boat, worth an estimated $100,000, to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Mlive reported.
Despite the deal, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Steven Gall can still decide to send the men to prison or county jail for up to one year. He can also change how long their fishing licenses will be ultimately be suspended for.
According to authorities, both Runyan and Cominsky cheated their way into winning the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Championship on Sept. 30, but their scheme was uncovered after lead weights and walleye fillets were found stuffed into their fish during the weigh-in at Cleveland’s Gordon Park.
The weight Runyan and Cominsky had to beat to earn the 1st place spot was around 16lbs. The pair presented visibly smaller fish, weighing in around 30lbs, which immediately drew the suspicions of the tournament officials.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley spoke to reporters after Monday's hearing, saying the case was significant because the two men had cheated other honest anglers, many who work blue-collar jobs, out of the $28,000 grand prize.
“We’re hoping this conviction cleans up the sport of tournament fishing not just in our county and our state, but nationally,” he said. “People will see that if you cheat in these types of events, you will be held accountable.”
According to Mlive, anglers have now called into the question Runyan and Cominsky's other tournament wins dating back to Nov. 2021 in light of last year's scandal.
O'Malley said they could not speak on the other suspicions, but was happy they were able to hold the men accountable in this case.
“This is a good first step,” O’Malley added.