Going to the slammer. After a year-long investigation, Ohio hunter CJ Anderson has been officially sentenced. Last November, CJ Anderson stunned the internet by sharing a massive buck he shot during archery season.
Anderson told numerous outlets following the kill that he shot the whitetail buck on November 9th while hunting on his sister’s 30-acre property in Clinton County, Ohio. The buck Anderson killed was regarded as one of the largest ever recorded.
According to Field and Stream, scorer Mike Rex from the Buckeye Big Buck Club initially scored the deer, “giving it a green gross of 235 7/8 with a net typical of 206 7/8.” Despite the early numbers, this buck ranks near the top of the Buckeye State’s biggest bucks ever.
Unfortunately for Anderson, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources opened an investigation into him on December 23, 2023, for poaching the buck:
“An investigation was launched by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources after information was provided alleging that Alexander failed to obtain the lawfully required written permission prior to hunting on private property. While the investigation continues, Ohio wildlife officers have seized the antlers, cape, and hunting equipment associated with the alleged unlawful taking of the deer.” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost adds: “Hunting in Ohio is a time-honored tradition, and there is a proper way to be safe and successful. When bad actors like these guys try to cheat the system, it ruins the reputation of Ohio’s respected sportsmen and women – I can’t stand for that.”
Anderson has been sentenced, a year after shooting the impressive buck. And it appears that he will be out of the stands for years to come. to come. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office released a press statement highlighting the details of his sentencing and providing information about the other individuals who helped cover the poaching of this buck.
“CJ Alexander’s sentencing today follows his Oct. 15 guilty plea to 14 charges, including one felony count each of theft by deception and tampering with evidence. The 12 other charges – all misdemeanors – included hunting violations, falsification, jacklighting and the sale of wildlife parts.
Specifically, CJ Alexander’s sentence requires him to:
- “Serve 180 days in jail, with 90 days suspended and the other 90 days served at the Star Community Justice Center before he can be eligible for work release. (His sentence also includes an up to 36-month suspended prison term that becomes active if community control is revoked.)
- Serve five years of community control.
- Pay $39,696.73 to the Ohio Wildlife Fund and $2,000 in restitution to KSE Sportsman Media, DBA Outdoor Sportsman Group-IM.
- Pay $1,000 in restitution to the poaching hotline, a $1,000 wildlife fine and court costs.
- Enter a four- to six-month community-based program through the Star Community Justice Center.
- Write letters of apology to affected parties.
- Forfeit all hunting-related property seized by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife as evidence.
- Lose his hunting license for a minimum of 10 years; if full restitution is not paid by then, the license remains revoked until full payment is made.”
The other three parties involved in this crime were found guilty and will face jail sentences ranging from 90 to 60 days (all suspended) as well as fines.
While some hunters agree in forums that this is an appropriate punishment for the crime CJ Anderson committed, many others believe it is excessively harsh. Check out the comments on this Facebook post about the punishment.
“Anyone who is saying this is a harsh punishment has probably never hunted in their life. This punishment is light-handed at best.” “Definitely over the top. People act like he rapped someone or killed a person.” “Child molesters and drug dealers don’t get punished that much…” “Christ, did he murder somebody? That was a deer he shot right?” “Damn, I’m all about paying your dues, but you can get five illegal gun possession charges in Detroit before serving 3 months. I guess if the punishment was less, everyone would just poach.”
Regardless of whether you think it’s a fair punishment, too harsh, or not harsh enough, CJ Anderson will not be found in a deer stand for a LONG time.
