COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Wilmington man who poached an 18-point antlered white-tailed deer in Clinton County on Nov. 9, 2023 pleaded guilty Tuesday to 14 counts.

Christopher J. Alexander, 28, pleaded guilty to taking a second antlered buck during the 2023 hunting season, which is another violation of Ohio law according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The 14 counts include: illegal taking or possession of deer (two), hunting without a license, hunting without a deer permit, selling illegally taken or possessed deer antlers, spotlighting, hunting without permission (four), tampering with evidence, theft, misdemeanor theft, and falsification.

Alexander’s sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 11, according to ODNR. Maximum sanctions could include $13,750 in fines, community control, a five-year hunting license suspension, and restitution for both bucks. The larger buck’s antlers have 18 scorable points, and the final restitution has been calculated at $35,071.73. The final restitution for the second buck, with eight scorable points, is $4,625.

Three accomplices also pleaded guilty in connection with the case.

– Corey P. Haunert, 29, of Hillsboro, pleaded guilty to six counts: attempted tampering with evidence, aiding a wildlife offender in taking or possessing of deer (three), hunting without permission, and falsification

– Kristina M. Alexander, 37, of Blanchester, pleaded guilty to two counts: obstructing official business and aiding a wildlife offender

– Zachary R. Haunert, 31, of Lebanon, pleaded guilty to one count: aiding a wildlife offender

According to reports, Alexander originally claimed that the animal had been on property owned by his sister, Kristina M. Alexander, when he killed the deer and presented written permission from his sister to hunt on her land to a wildlife officer.

An investigation by ODNR’s Division of Wildlife, however, revealed evidence to the contrary, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Wildlife officers allegedly discovered through warranted searches of cellphone data that Christopher Alexander had illegally hunted the trophy buck on private property about 10 miles from his sister’s land, and later learned that the written permission from his sister he had presented to wildlife officers had been falsified – after the deer was killed – to mislead authorities. 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, according to Yost.

The investigation also reportedly found that Corey Haunert aided Christopher Alexander in poaching deer on multiple occasions, providing the crossbow used to hunt and assisting in deer retrieval and staging with Zachary Haunert. Kristina Alexander was accused of falsifying the date when the written permission to hunt occurred.

Likewise, wildlife officers learned that Christopher 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.

This deer stands out as the largest typical whitetail in Ohio, showcasing remarkable antler uniformity, according to the news release. Additionally, some reports rank it as the third largest typical whitetail in North America.

The Division of Wildlife is dedicated to enforcing laws that protect Ohio’s wildlife. Input and concern from the public are integral to those enforcement efforts. Anyone who witnesses a wildlife violation in Ohio can call the Turn in a Poacher hotline at 1-800-POACHER (1-800-762-2437). Reports are kept anonymous. Information that results in a conviction of a wildlife crime may result in a reward.