ATHENS MAN CONVICTED OF POACHING TROPHY BUCK
ATHENS, OH – The post-season investigation of an alleged deer tagging violation led to the conviction of an Athens County man on poaching charges, according to the ODNR Division of Wildlife.
Dwight D. Edwards II, 18, of Athens, was convicted recently in Athens County Municipal Court of several misdemeanor charges stemming from the illegal harvest of a trophy buck deer.
Wildlife officers allege that Edwards harvested a 14-point non-typical buck with a Boone and Crockett net score of 163 prior to purchasing a 2007 deer permit. Upon further investigation, officers found that the deer had been harvested with a rifle – in violation of Ohio wildlife laws.
Officers cited Edwards for hunting deer without a permit, taking a deer with an illegal implement and providing false information to a deer check station.
He was ordered to pay a total of $996 in fines and restitution and his hunting privileges were revoked for three years. The trophy antlers and the .22 rifle used in the illegal kill were ordered forfeited to the state.