Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster said Tuesday he is reviewing the case of two police officers who were fined in Putnam County for illegally shooting a deer.

On Monday, Patrolman Conrad M. Carpenter and Cpl. James E. White Jr. both entered into plea agreements in Putnam Magistrate Court for charges related to an incident near Liberty last December.

"I'm going to take the results of the criminal investigation and the results of the internal investigation and make some decisions [about discipline]," Webster said. He said he would make a recommendation "in the very near future."

Carpenter pleaded no contest to illegal possession of wildlife, shooting within 500 feet of a building, and hunting from an automobile. He must pay nearly $1,600 in fines and court costs.

White pleaded no contest to illegal possession of animal parts. He will pay $460 in fines and court costs.

Both men were originally charged with spotlighting, hunting from an automobile, shooting within 500 feet of a dwelling, possession of wildlife parts and conspiracy. Spotlighting carries an automatic jail or home confinement sentence.

According to a criminal complaint by Cpl. Gary Amick of the state's Department of Natural Resources, the off-duty Charleston officers were driving on W.Va. 34 near Liberty when they spotted three deer crossing the road. One appeared to be injured.

Carpenter told White to stop so he could shoot the injured animal, the complaint states. Then, White allegedly spotlighted the deer so Carpenter could shoot it within a .40-caliber gun.

Neighbors witnessed the shooting and reported it to Amick, who traced the license number of the car to White, according to the complaint.

On Tuesday, Amick said he was disappointed that some charges were dropped, but said, "That's not my call to make."

"A lot of spotlighting takes place on private property next to house, next to barns, with a lot of livestock involved," he said. "It's a danger really to anyone out there, not just to the animal."

He said it was difficult to investigate two law enforcement officers.

Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster said Tuesday he is reviewing the case of two police officers who were fined in Putnam County for illegally shooting a deer.

On Monday, Patrolman Conrad M. Carpenter and Cpl. James E. White Jr. both entered into plea agreements in Putnam Magistrate Court for charges related to an incident near Liberty last December.

"I'm going to take the results of the criminal investigation and the results of the internal investigation and make some decisions [about discipline]," Webster said. He said he would make a recommendation "in the very near future."

Carpenter pleaded no contest to illegal possession of wildlife, shooting within 500 feet of a building, and hunting from an automobile. He must pay nearly $1,600 in fines and court costs.

White pleaded no contest to illegal possession of animal parts. He will pay $460 in fines and court costs.

Both men were originally charged with spotlighting, hunting from an automobile, shooting within 500 feet of a dwelling, possession of wildlife parts and conspiracy. Spotlighting carries an automatic jail or home confinement sentence.

According to a criminal complaint by Cpl. Gary Amick of the state's Department of Natural Resources, the off-duty Charleston officers were driving on W.Va. 34 near Liberty when they spotted three deer crossing the road. One appeared to be injured.

Carpenter told White to stop so he could shoot the injured animal, the complaint states. Then, White allegedly spotlighted the deer so Carpenter could shoot it within a .40-caliber gun.

Neighbors witnessed the shooting and reported it to Amick, who traced the license number of the car to White, according to the complaint.

On Tuesday, Amick said he was disappointed that some charges were dropped, but said, "That's not my call to make."

"A lot of spotlighting takes place on private property next to house, next to barns, with a lot of livestock involved," he said. "It's a danger really to anyone out there, not just to the animal."

He said it was difficult to investigate two law enforcement officers.

"Any time you deal with a fellow officer, it definitely makes it difficult," he said, adding that Charleston police had fully cooperated with and supported his investigation. "It can be quite tense at times."

Both officers have been on paid administrative leave since shortly after the incident, Webster said.

Putnam Prosecutor Mark Sorsaia said prosecutors tried from the beginning not to show favoritism to Carpenter and White.

"I knew there were going to be some people out there that say we pled this out because they were policemen," Sorsaia said. "That's not the case ...We bent over backwards in this office to make sure there wasn't any [favoritism]. We bent over backwards to make sure they were treated like anyone else."

Prosecutors offered a plea deal because they thought there was a chance they might not win at trial, he said. The officers "did have some defenses."

"It is a common practice for a law enforcement officer ... to put down a wounded deer," he said.

But Bill Forbes, the officers' lawyers, said prosecutors treated his clients more harshly than they would have ordinary citizens.

"What [Carpenter and White] attempted to do is reduce suffering," he said.

The officers felt that pleading no contest in a plea deal was "a good compromise," he said.

"They're admitting no guilt and they get to go about their lives," he said.

 To contact staff writer Alison Knezevich, use e-mail or call 348-1240.