Local man pleads guilty in ‘high-profile’ poaching case

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A Wilmington man will soon be sentenced after pleading guilty in a poaching case.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division reported Thursday that Christopher Alexander, 28, of Wilmington, pleaded guilty to charges related to the illegal capture of a deer in Clinton County. ODNR says the man pleaded guilty to taking two antlered deer during the 2023 hunting season.

According to the ODNR, Alexander pleaded guilty to the following charges:

• 4 heads of hunting without authorization

• 2 counts of illegal taking or possession of deer

• 1 count of selling illegally captured or possessed deer antlers

• 1 hunting leader without a license

• 1 hunting leader without a deer license

• 1 spotlight account

• 1 count of tampering with evidence

• 1 flight leader

• 1 count of misdemeanor theft

• 1 count of falsification

The Wilmington man faces a maximum of thousands of dollars in fines, community control, a five-year hunting license suspension and restitution for the two dollars, according to ODNR.

“The antlers of the largest deer have 18 scoring points, and the final restitution was calculated at $35,071.73,” ODNR said. “The final restitution for the second dollar, with eight scoring points, is $4,625.”

Alexander is scheduled to be sentenced on December 11.

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