Virginia wildlife officers despatched a transparent message with the sentencing of a poacher this week: Unethical searching is not going to be tolerated.
For the unlawful killing of a beloved deer often called the “Hollywood Buck,” amongst different crimes, Richmond resident Jason Walters was sentenced to six months of jail with 3 months suspended, Virginia officers mentioned this week. Walters pled responsible to twenty expenses, together with poaching and trespassing. He can even be fined $2,500, in addition to an $11,000 substitute value for the well-known 29-point buck and two different poached deer.
Walters’ confederate, Alan Proffitt, was additionally discovered responsible of six wildlife violations and should pay $1,250 in fines and serve 30 days of home arrest. Each males additionally misplaced searching privileges: Walters for twenty-four years and Proffitt for 30 years.
Virginia wildlife officers referred to as the sentencing “one of many strongest enforcement outcomes in latest reminiscence,” in a Thursday press launch. A number of businesses have been concerned within the investigation and prosecution, together with the Virginia Division of Pure Sources, the Metropolis of Richmond, and Chesterfield County.
“Looking is a treasured custom in Virginia. Unethical and legal conduct tarnishes the repute of the game and offers a nasty title to those who have interaction in it lawfully,” the state’s wildlife officers mentioned. “The appreciable penalties included will definitely be a deterrent to future wildlife crime and may give the neighborhood a degree of consolation that such a crime is taken very severely within the Commonwealth.”
The well-known buck acquired its moniker as a result of it was regularly seen at Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery, in keeping with WTVR CBS 6. It was a well-known head of antlers to the customers on the Fb group Star Metropolis Whitetails, which hosts pictures of searching successes throughout Virginia.
“It’s fairly loopy to say within the least,” the group’s admin Jeff Phillips advised WTVR. “Within the time I’ve executed this nothing has drawn that sort of consideration.”
Virginia wildlife officers will work with the outside neighborhood to “decide the easiest way to memorialize this unbelievable animal,” in keeping with the press launch.
Poacher of Iconic ‘Hollywood Buck’ Faces 19 Fees
February 16, 2024 — The beloved “Hollywood Buck” is about to obtain its day in courtroom, albeit posthumously. Final week, authorities set a trial date for the person accused of poaching the 29-point nontypical buck, together with two different bucks from the world.
Jason Walters of Richmond, Va., was arrested on Jan. 29 and charged with 19 wildlife violations, together with poaching and trespassing, amongst different expenses. He’s scheduled to look on February 27.
The fees stem from three completely different deer that Walters is believed to have illegally killed in the course of the 2023 season. Authorities zeroed in on the 36-year-old after he submitted pictures of the deer to the Star Metropolis Whitetails Fb web page. Police additionally introduced pending expenses towards Walters’ alleged confederate, Alan Proffitt.
Folks acquainted with the distinctive deer instantly threw up crimson flags and notified the Virginia Division of Wildlife Sources (DWR) with suggestions that the deer could not have been taken legally.
Iconic ‘Hollywood Buck’ Poaching Case
Walters shared pictures of himself with the deer in query on-line between Nov. 20 and Dec. 18, 2023. The ultimate picture he shared was unmistakably the “Hollywood Buck,” authorities mentioned.
“The Hollywood Cemetery buck was well-known for its massive and distinctive antlers, making it simply identifiable,” police mentioned in a press launch.
Walters captioned his publish with the Hollywood Buck on December 18:
“Prince Edward County killed with 50 cal muzzleloader, shot this morning 713am at 20 yards, my third mounter this yr! Largest buck of my LIFE 🦌💥”
The three whitetail bucks have been recognized to frequent the Hollywood Cemetery in Virginia and properly liked domestically. Suspicions arose as a result of the buck was so distinctive, and Walters claimed to have killed the deer some 70 miles from the placement the place the buck was recognized to frequent. Web sleuths identified the discrepancy rapidly, and suggestions flooded in.
On December 18, 2023, the Virginia DWR despatched out a press launch {that a} suspect had been recognized within the case. On the time, Walters wasn’t named. Almost a month later, one other press launch recognized Walters because the suspect and Alan Proffitt as an confederate. The total listing of expenses contains unlawful possession of wildlife, trespassing, failing to verify and tag a deer, earn a buck violation, and littering.
