A Virginia hunter is facing prison time and more after pleading guilty to killing a well-known and beloved deer on the grounds of historic Hollywood Cemetery.
Two hunters are implicated in the killing of “Hollywood Buck” and are each facing separate charges.
According to reports from Fox Richmond and other outlets, Jason Walters of Richmond, Virginia, pleaded guilty to all 20 misdemeanor counts he received in Richmond District Court.
Dennis Anderson, an assistant state's attorney in Virginia, told Fox News Digital in an email that Walters faces fines and restitution totaling more than $13,000 on all charges for “non-incarcerable offenses.”
The Richmond poachers were given sentences totaling 80 months, with 76 months suspended.
“Walters will serve four months in Richmond Prison, which will be suspended for nearly seven years,” Anderson continued.
“All terms are contingent on him complying with all other terms of the plea agreement, maintaining good behavior and complying with all state and city of Richmond laws.”
Walters' hunting license was revoked for 100 years, with 75 of those years suspended, meaning he lost his license for at least 25 years.
The remaining 75 years of Walters' sentence is contingent on Walters complying with all terms of the plea agreement.
Alan Proffitt was the second hunter involved in the murder of the beloved “Hollywood Buck.”
“Alan Proffitt pleaded guilty to all six charges. He was fined $250 for the five charges for which he was not allowed to post bail,” Anderson said.
“For the remaining charges, he received a six month prison sentence, suspended for five months. His hunting license was also revoked for five years and four years' probation was suspended for each of the six charges, resulting in a total of six years of denied hunting privileges, with conditions to maintain good behavior and comply with all state and city of Richmond laws.”
“It's really eye-catching.”
The news became a hot topic after a photo of the giant buck killed by a hunter in Virginia was posted on a Facebook page called Star City Whitetails, run by Jeff Phillips.
There, hunters from across Virginia share their hunting exploits and photographic evidence.
Phillips said he hosts a stag contest every year during Virginia deer hunting season.
Hunting enthusiasts, like Walters, can submit photos of their largest catches.
“This hunter shared with us a couple of pretty impressive bucks last November and then sent us a third one. We ended up taking all three at the cemetery, and that third one was absolutely amazing,” Phillips told Fox News Digital.
The Facebook page host thought nothing of the photos Walters sent and posted the result on his main page.
“Deer taken with a .50 caliber musket in Prince Edward County. Shot from 20 yards at 7:13 this morning. 3rd deer this year! Biggest deer I've seen in my life,” reads the original caption, presumably posted by the hunter himself.
The rare 29-antler white-tailed deer's distinctive antlers quickly led internet sleuths to identify it as a male buck that lives near Hollywood Cemetery.
“I posted it on my page, and within probably 10 minutes, someone who follows me sent me a private message with some photos of this deer that had been taken by a wildlife photographer in the Richmond area,” and Phillips immediately recognized it as the legendary “Hollywood Buck.”
The comments section was initially filled with congratulatory messages, but users quickly took to sharing photos of the famous stag and condemning the poachers.
Less than 24 hours later, the Virginia Wildlife Resources Agency contacted Phillips, requesting information about Walters and the photos he had posted on his Facebook page.
“Members of the hunting and wildlife watching community recognized the buck in the photo as one that frequents Hollywood Cemetery in the Oregon Hill section of Richmond and contacted DWR law enforcement with concerns that the buck may have been illegally killed,” the Virginia Department of Wildlife reported in a press release last year.
After recovering evidence and making contact with the suspect, Wildlife Resources Law Enforcement was able to determine that the buck had indeed been illegally killed.
“The illegal killing of the buck at Hollywood Cemetery is a serious violation of Virginia's wildlife laws and will remain a top priority for the Conservation Police officers investigating the case until all leads have been exhausted, all evidence has been collected, and those involved have been charged,” DWR Deputy Chief of Law Enforcement Ryan Schuller said in a statement.
The legendary “Hollywood Buck” has roamed the grounds of Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery for years, quickly becoming a favorite creature with nearby residents.
After all, it was the size of the stag that made him so beloved and recognizable.
“Any deer with antlers like this would have to be 6 to 7 years old,” Phillips said. [that age] before they reach their potential and the deer live out their lives. [or rather] As we all know, they spend most of their lives in privacy and protection.”
He added, “But the bottom line is, at the end of the day, there are deer in that area and in that cemetery and you can't hunt there.”
Phillips was surprised that Walters ultimately exposed herself by sharing the photos with Star City Whitetails.
” [kill] Just for the glory [it] Ego [boost]” he said.
“I hope that this incident will cause me to change the way I behave,” he said.
Although the situation was not a happy one, Phillips said he remains grateful that his Facebook page played a key role in the man's arrest.
“My page and the people who follow it were extremely important and helpful to law enforcement in arresting this man because if he hadn't posted the photo he probably would never have been arrested. [been caught]” said Phillips.
