James Gallagher: Latest News

CLEVELAND (AP) - Two men accused of stuffing fish with lead weights and fish fillets in an attempt to win thousands of dollars in an Ohio fishing tournament last fall pleaded guilty Monday to charges including cheating.The cheating allegations surfaced in September when Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament Director Jason Fischer became suspicious when the fish turned in by Jacob Runyan, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, and Chase Cominsky, of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, were significantly heavier than typical walleye.A crowd of people at Gordon Park in Cleveland watched as Fischer cut the walleye open and found weights and walleye fillets stuffed inside.RELATED: Ohio fishing scandal: 2 men caught cheating at tournament charged, prosecutors sayAs part of a plea deal, Runyan and Cominsky pleaded guilty to cheating and unlawful ownership of wild animals and agreed to three-year suspensions of their fishing licenses. Cominsky also agreed to give up his bass boat worth $100,000.Prosecutors agreed to drop attempted grand theft and possessing criminal tools charges.Both men are scheduled to be sentenced May 11.

A California assemblyman is warning that businesses and school-aged children could suffer under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest coronavirus restrictions.