2 Men Arrested For Firearms Violations Early In Shotgun Deer Season

Two men have been arrested on firearms-related charges during the opening days of the shotgun deer hunting season in Delaware,

According to Delaware Natural Resources, 47-year-old Brian Dill of Lincoln was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony theft conviction. 81-year-old John Hitch of Seaford was previously convicted of felony possession of child pornography, and is also charged with possession of a firearm or ammunition.

DNREC said a search of the residences for both Dill and Hitch turned up a total of ten firearms, three crossbows and numerous rounds of ammunition.

DNREC added that both are presumed innocent and entitled to a jury trial, at which the State bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

Both men have been released on unsecured bond.

Dill is charged with three counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person prohibited, two counts of possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited, one count of no hunter orange, and one count of possession or transportation of an unlawfully taken antlerless deer.  Hitch is charged with ten counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person prohibited and one count of possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited.