AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Police have charged a former Maine lawmaker with fraudulently obtaining hunting licenses.

The Portland Press Herald reports the Maine Warden Service says Jeffrey Pierce failed to disclose he had a felony criminal record when he purchased firearms hunting permits in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Pierce was pardoned by former Gov. Paul LePage for a felony drug trafficking conviction in 1982, but he is still subject to prosecution because the pardon does not expunge his record.

Pierce is facing three misdemeanor charges in connection with the hunting licenses.

He declined to comment on how he will plead at a scheduled court appearance Thursday, but he says he is the target of a media “witch hunt.”

The Republican served as state representative from 2015 to 2018.