A Gaylord man was recently convicted in Otesego County Circuit Court on several charges ranging from wildlife and felony weapons violations to third-offense drunken driving and being a habitual offender.

Cecil Edward Day Jr., 56, is currently serving up to 7 1/2 years in state prison for his involvement in three separate incidents that Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers have been investigating since 2018.

“This individual was a thief of our natural resources,” said Sgt. Mark DePew, Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Division, who led the investigations. “Our officers’ teamwork should be a lesson to those who seek to steal fish and game from the citizens of this state.”

Conservation Officers Tom Oberg, Kyle Cherry and DePew conducted separate investigations over a three-year period that resulted in numerous convictions.

On Sept. 8, Day pleaded guilty before a judge and was convicted of the following:

• 2018: Intentionally discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle and possession or taking of an illegal deer. He was sentenced to 13 months in jail, loss of weapon used and ordered to pay fines totaling $1,836.
• 2019: Possession of a firearm by a felon and using another’s hunting license. He was sentenced to 13 months in jail, loss of weapon used and ordered to pay fines totaling $1,458.
• 2020: Operating a motor vehicle while being intoxicated (third offense) and being a habitual offender. He was sentenced to serve 16 months to 7 1/2 years in prison and to pay fines totaling $958.

The three sentences will run concurrently. Day started serving his prison sentence Sept. 13. Of his total $4,254 in fines assessed, $2,000 was ordered paid to the state’s Fish and Game Fund as restitution for the loss of game. Read more