After he killed what could have been one of many largest whitetail deer of all time final fall, Ohio resident Christopher “CJ” Alexander has been indicted on 23 expenses on account of an Ohio DNR investigation, the company confirmed with Outside Life. The information is the newest installment within the CJ Alexander saga, which started in November when Alexander killed the large deer, then gave interviews with looking publications, together with OL, about how he allegedly took the 18-point buck whereas looking with a crossbow on his sister’s 30-acre property in Ohio. This model of the story was thrown into query in December when the Ohio DNR seized the buck and opened a poaching investigation.
“Wildlife officers found by way of warranted searches of cellphone information that Christopher Alexander had illegally hunted the trophy buck on personal property about 10 miles from his sister’s land, and later realized that the written permission from his sister he had offered to wildlife officers had been falsified — after the deer was killed — to mislead authorities,” reads a press launch from the Ohio lawyer normal’s workplace, which particulars the indictment that was handed down by a Clinton County grand jury Friday. “Proof revealed Christopher Alexander staged the deer taking at his sister’s property with the assistance of Corey P. Haunert and his brother, Zachary R. Haunert, to hide the poaching.”
The costs going through Alexander, 28, of Wilmington, are as follows:
- 5 counts every of illegally looking deer with out written permission, and taking possession of a deer in violation of a division rule.
- Three counts of theft by deception.
- Two counts every of looking with no license, looking with no legitimate deer allow, and tampering with proof.
- As soon as depend every of jacklighting, theft, falsification, and sale of wildlife components.
Further expenses have been filed Friday towards Corey Haunert, Zachary Haunert, and CJ’s sister, Kristina Alexander, confirms Ohio DNR chief of communications Andy Chow.
Corey Haunert, 29, of Hillsboro faces eight expenses. These embrace: 4 counts of aiding a wildlife offender, two counts of looking with out permission, and one depend every of tampering with proof and falsification. Zachary Haunert, 31, of Lebanon, faces two misdemeanor counts of aiding a wildlife offender. Kristina, 37, of Blanchester, faces one depend of falsification, and one depend of aiding a wildlife offender.
Over the course of the DNR’s five-month investigation, Alexander has repeatedly mentioned that he’s been wrongfully accused, doubling down on his claims that he took the buck legally on his sister’s property. Earlier than it was seized by authorities the buck was scored by the Ohio’s Buckeye Massive Buck Membership, which makes use of the Boone and Crockett scoring system, and given a inexperienced rating of 206 7/8 inches typical, together with a gross nontypical rating of 235 7/8. With that preliminary rating, the buck would have the potential to turn into the No. 1 typical whitetail taken within the state of Ohio, and the No. 3 typical whitetail taken in North America.
After investigators seized the buck’s antlers, a crossbow, crossbow bolts, and tree stand, Alexander seems to have been served a summons on Feb. 5, in accordance with a screenshot of the Clinton County municipal court docket’s then-current timeline of authorized proceedings. Alexander posted the picture himself to his Instagram account, together with the next message:
“Asking me to forfeit MY property as a substitute of charging me criminally btw the reply of the defendant was FUCK OFF”
On the time, ODNR declined to touch upon any expenses or pending authorized actions towards Alexander, citing its coverage for not discussing all ongoing investigations. Then, on Feb. 6, a discover of look by the lawyer for Alexander was filed, indicating that Alexander had obtained authorized counsel.
Alexander is scheduled to seem in court docket for the primary time later this month. Ohio lawyer normal Dave Yost says the case will likely be prosecuted by attorneys from the state’s Environmental Enforcement Part. It’s unclear who will signify Alexander.
“Blinded by greed, the defendants set their sights on fame and fortune whereas disregarding primary looking laws,” Yost mentioned in a press release Friday. “This once-in-a-lifetime deer embodies the good pure sources Ohio has to supply. It’s shameful that this deer ended up in an proof room slightly than adorning an moral hunter’s wall as a prized trophy.”
As beforehand reported, in accordance with Part 1531.201 of the Ohio Revised Code, anybody discovered responsible of illegally taking a deer over 125 inches gross rating shall be ordered to pay a particular restitution price along with any restitution worth established in division rule. This extra tremendous is calculated utilizing the next system: ((gross rating – 100)² x $1.65). Ought to DNR officers discover the Alexander buck’s extensively reported gross rating of 235 ⅞ inches to be correct, Alexander might obtain an extra tremendous of $30,462.33 if convicted.”
Alexander didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
