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Location: Athens, Ohio | I saw this: poaching just don't pay! m
A 28-year-old Clinton County man who poached an 18-point buck, lied to investigators about it and made $20,000 from his poaching activities was given a 90-day jail sentence Wednesday.
Christopher J. Alexander of Clinton County, known as CJ, shot and killed the white-tailed deer on Nov. 9, 2023. State officials said it was the largest deer of its kind in Ohio, showcasing remarkable antler uniformity. Additionally, some reports rank it as the third-largest typical white-tailed deer in North America.
But his cell phone records would catch up to him.
“Instead of the cover of Field & Stream, their notoriety will be a booking photo," State Attorney General David Yost said.
After the deer was killed, CJ Alexander told wildlife officers he had harvested the deer on his sister's land, but the investigators got warrants to search his phone. The data showed he had illegally hunted the buck on private property about 10 miles away from his sister's property, officials said.
Investigators also said his sister, Kristina Alexander, had falsified the written permission to hunt her land.
"Evidence revealed Christopher Alexander staged the deer taking at his sister’s property with the help of Corey P. Haunert and his brother, Zachary R. Haunert, to conceal the poaching," investigators said.
The investigation uncovered more poaching activity than just the buck, officials said.
Wildlife officers also reported that CJ Alexander deceptively profited from the illegal deer taking, selling deer antlers and receiving payments totaling $20,000 from an antler collector, a hunting magazine and a company that sells deer products. |
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Posts: 402
Location: SW Ohio | A true dirtbag. His sentencing and restitution is not enough. Took a while for the ODNR to untangle the lies but they are persistent.
https://www.wnewsj.com/2024/12/12/wilmington-poacher-sentenced-to-ja... |
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Posts: 1420
Location: Brighton CO. | In Colorado we have Sampson's Law (named after a large Elk poached by the town of Estes Park in 1995) Samson was a very tame Elk that came into town and had no fear of people and was the town mascot. He was over a 1000 pounds and had a 7X9 rack. He was killed at close rage with a cross bow. they throw the book at the guy and now if you poach a trophy Bull Elk with a rack of 6X6 or bigger its a 10,000 dollar fine. |
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Posts: 540
| I'm not gonna defend they guy one bit he is guilty for sure. I will say I don't believe he got a fair trial though. The DA himself was after that deer and clearly butt hurt. Way too many people too close to the situation part of the trial. Should not of been that way. Should of been held in a different county or something. I also think personally that 90 days in jail and 10 yrs loss of hunting rights plus 43k in fines and the rest of it is a little excessive. Anybody else down the road poach a deer and get a small fine. All because of a butthurt DA. |
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Posts: 67
| I am not saying you are incorrect in anything you are saying. However, the easiest way to avoid unfair trials, fines, etc. is not to be a dirtbag to begin with. A good time to consider those things might just have been before doing the act. Ef him.
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Posts: 1091
Location: Hayward, WI | He went on countless podcasts and interviews talking about how he shot the deer legally. Don't feel sorry for him one bit. he knew exactly what he was doing and tried to gain fame and money from it. |
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Posts: 2331
Location: Chisholm, MN | leech lake strain - 12/29/2024 5:53 PM
I'm not gonna defend they guy one bit he is guilty for sure. I will say I don't believe he got a fair trial though. The DA himself was after that deer and clearly butt hurt. Way too many people too close to the situation part of the trial. Should not of been that way. Should of been held in a different county or something. I also think personally that 90 days in jail and 10 yrs loss of hunting rights plus 43k in fines and the rest of it is a little excessive. Anybody else down the road poach a deer and get a small fine. All because of a butthurt DA.
I would agree with that. 10 years or even a lifetime of no hunting would crush a soul. I'd scratch the jail time, fine him whatever and take away hunting and fishing privileges for a very long time. |
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Posts: 112
| leech lake strain - 12/29/2024 5:53 PM
I'm not gonna defend they guy one bit he is guilty for sure. I will say I don't believe he got a fair trial though. The DA himself was after that deer and clearly butt hurt. Way too many people too close to the situation part of the trial. Should not of been that way. Should of been held in a different county or something. I also think personally that 90 days in jail and 10 yrs loss of hunting rights plus 43k in fines and the rest of it is a little excessive. Anybody else down the road poach a deer and get a small fine. All because of a butthurt DA.
Changes of venue are typically done on the basis of the jury pool being tainted, not the prosecutor having a problem with you. Further, the judge and jury ultimately hold responsibility for the sentence. The prosecutor can make recommendations, but if they were that far out of the sentencing guidelines and typical local practice, the judge and jury are responsible to mete that out. |
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Posts: 1749
| Glad they got him. I don't know if the verdict was fair or unfair, all I know is if you are poaching anything theres a chance you get caught. Like the old saying goes...."if you are doing the crme, be willing to do the time." |
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| Just speculation but I wonder if the amount of planning, collusion and dishonesty didn't play into the sentencing. The fact that he sought in multiple ways to profit from his crime may have impacted the sentence as well.
This was not a simple case of a guy having a moment of weakness and illegally taking a deer. |
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Posts: 648
Location: Duluth | OH Musky - 12/14/2024 7:36 AM
A true dirtbag. His sentencing and restitution is not enough. Took a while for the ODNR to untangle the lies but they are persistent.
https://www.wnewsj.com/2024/12/12/wilmington-poacher-sentenced-to-ja...
I would definitely take your word for it, considering proximity to the incident.
Just a hunch this dude was pretty well known in town. |
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Posts: 557
Location: WI | Kirby Budrow - 12/31/2024 9:38 AM
I would agree with that. 10 years or even a lifetime of no hunting would crush a soul. I'd scratch the jail time, fine him whatever and take away hunting and fishing privileges for a very long time.
I’m not convinced a loss of hunting privileges is a huge punishment for some of these folks. I would bet a fair amount continue on without a license, especially with a more extreme sentence like this. My old man’s truck was totaled by a driver with suspended license. My truck took a good beating from somebody who didn’t even try to get one. Licenses are only needed when you’re caught without one for some in this world.
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| raftman - 1/2/2025 11:24 AM
Kirby Budrow - 12/31/2024 9:38 AM
I would agree with that. 10 years or even a lifetime of no hunting would crush a soul. I'd scratch the jail time, fine him whatever and take away hunting and fishing privileges for a very long time.
I’m not convinced a loss of hunting privileges is a huge punishment for some of these folks. I would bet a fair amount continue on without a license, especially with a more extreme sentence like this. My old man’s truck was totaled by a driver with suspended license. My truck took a good beating from somebody who didn’t even try to get one. Licenses are only needed when you’re caught without one for some in this world.
In Wisconsin, with our weak drunk driving laws, it is not uncommon to see someone stopped for their 7th, 8th or 9th drunk driving and they have not had a license for some time. |
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