Man sentenced for hunting violations
Advocate staff report
NEWARK -- A Reynoldsburg man awaiting trial in connection with the
killing of potentially one of the largest bucks in the world was
sentenced Thursday to 60 days in jail for local wildlife violations.
The 49-year-old was charged in March with 16 misdemeanors after a
Feb. 24 raid at his home by authorities revealed 48 antlers, deer skulls
or packages of meat that could not be accounted for with official
paperwork, according to statements by Kirk Kiefer, an Ohio Department of
Natural Resources investigator.
The violation is known as untagged deer parts, a third-degree
misdemeanor. A three-month probe began when Kiefer received information
about a massive white-tail deer killed in Fairfield County.
In a request for a search warrant, Kiefer wrote: "because of the size
of (the buck's) antlers (it) could potentially be rated top 5 in the
world and top 2 in the state of Ohio."
The crossbow kill was a violation because the suspect already had
claimed a buck that season, Kiefer said.
The man subsequently entered the buck into three contests and earned
money and merchandise in winnings, a March press release from ODNR
states.
This is the man's third arrest on wildlife violations, according to
court documents.
A July 10 trial is scheduled in Fairfield County Municipal Court on
three charges related to that slaying.
The defendant provided information to Kiefer about another suspect in
a Franklin County deer case. In a letter to Licking County Municipal
Court Judge Michael Higgins, the investigator said the tips proved true
and were "very beneficial."
Higgins granted the defendant work release for the last 50 days of
the sentence. He also must pay court costs and $2,400.
His hunting rights are terminated through at least 2010, according to
the judgment entry.
