Staff Report / December 29, 2025
Bath NY – A Savona resident is facing multiple felony weapon charges after New York State Police say he discharged a handgun to kill a deer along a Steuben County roadway earlier this fall.
Incident Details
On the evening of November 3, troopers from the New York State Police responded to a report of an injured deer along State Route 226 in the town of Bath. During that initial investigation, authorities learned that the animal had been shot with a handgun and left at the scene.
Subsequent work by the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation led them to 42-year-old James A. Labarr of Savona, NY. Investigators say evidence showed that Labarr, who has a prior felony conviction, was in possession of a loaded handgun and discharged it during the encounter with the deer. The firearm was later recovered by authorities and secured as evidence.
Arrest and Charges
On December 19, state troopers located Labarr at his home and took him into custody without incident. He was charged with two felony counts: criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, for possessing a loaded firearm, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, based on his prior conviction.
After processing at the State Police barracks in Bath, Labarr was transported to the Steuben County Jail for centralized arraignment.
Legal Context
Under New York law, convicted felons are prohibited from possessing firearms, and discharging a weapon in an unlawful manner can lead to serious felony penalties. Cases involving illegal hunting or firearm use—especially from public roadways—are routinely investigated by state law enforcement, sometimes with assistance from environmental conservation officers, to ensure both public safety and wildlife protection.
