COURTLAND—An Elizabeth City, N.C., felon accused of illegally possessing a rifle while spotting deer near Capron is headed to Southampton County Circuit Court.

A General District Court judge in Courtland recently determined during a preliminary hearing there was enough evidence against Travis Hollowell for the case to continue.

Hollowell’s accomplice, Jeremy Lassiter, 26, of Elizabeth City admitted to illegal spotlighting and was fined $50.

Hollowell, 27, was arrested for shining a light on a deer decoy at 11:30 p.m. Nov. 12 while allegedly having a rifle with him. Felons are not permitted to have a gun, and at no time when spotlighting can a person have a gun.

Hollowell was also charged with spotlighting without permission from the property owner.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on Nov. 11 and 12 set up a whitetail deer decoy at Pope Station and Indiantown roads after getting reports about someone shooting after dark on Nov. 10.

Authorities allegedly saw Hollowell and Lassiter spotlighting and found a .270 rifle in Hollowell’s truck. Hollowell denied knowing the gun was there.