Fishermen admit to stuffing catches with fillets, lead weights to win Ohio tournament

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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.

CHEATING CONTROVERSY AT LAKE ERIE FISHING TOURNAMENT FACES SCRUTINY FROM AUTHORITIES

As 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.

Jacob Runyan, left, and Chase Cominsky, pled guilty to lesser charges in a high-profile cheating scandal that rocked a Lake Erie fishing tournament. (AP Photo/Mark Gillispie)

Prosecutors agreed to drop attempted grand theft and possessing criminal tools charges.

Both men are scheduled to be sentenced May 11. Prosecutors plan to recommend a sentence of six months' probation and later ask for an expungement of their convictions if they successfully complete their probation, said James Gallagher, an assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor.

TWO MEN EMBROILED IN LAKE ERIE FISHING TOURNAMENT SCANDAL ENTER PLEAS TO CHARGES

The plea is Cominsky's first step toward moving on with his life and taking full