A lyin’, trespassin’, deer poachin’ Ohio man got more than the proverbial book thrown at him last week.

Christopher J. Alexander, also known as “CJ,” got the whole bookshelf shoved on him Dec. 11 after he entered a guilty plea in October to 14 of 23 charges for shooting an 18-point trophy buck Nov. 9, 2023, with a borrowed crossbow and tree stand. The 28-year-old “hunter” was sentenced to 90 days in jail followed by five years probation during his day in the Clinton County Common Pleas Court.

There’s more to the shocking crime and punishment story. He went from basking in the glory of harvesting the largest white-tailed deer in Ohio and, in all probability, the third-largest typical deer in North America, to a criminal record.

It all boiled down to his cell phone records telling the tale that has sent shockwaves through the big game hunting world.

Alexander paid the maximum restitution of $35,071.73, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. His restitution jumped to $39,695.73 after $4,625 was added for a second illegally harvested buck later that season in ’23. Also, the Wilmington, Ohio, resident must pay $1,000 in fines, $1,000 to the Turn in a Poacher program, $2,000 in restitution to media outlets, and all court costs.

Among the charges against Alexander were illegal taking or possession of deer (two), hunting without a hunting 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, reported For the Win Outdoors senior writer/blogger David Strege in a story posted Dec. 14.

Alexander also was sentenced to complete five years of community control (probation) and serve 90 days at STAR Community Justice Center, a lockdown community-based correctional facility.

He won’t be hunting, legally, again until December 2034 because his hunting license was revoked for 10 years. The defendant forfeited all property seized as evidence, including the antlers.

Wildlife enforcement agents reported Alexander deceptively profited from the illegal deer taking by selling deer antlers and receiving payments totaling $20,000 from an antler collector, a hunting magazine and a company that sells deer products.

It was quite a tangled web Alexander weaved with the help of a sister, Kristina Alexander of Blanchester, Ohio, and two friends, brothers Corey P. Haunert of Hillsboro, Ohio, and Zachary R. Haunert of Lebanon, Ohio. His sister and the brothers also were charged and entered guilty pleas.

“Instead of the cover of Field & Stream, their notoriety will be a booking photo,” State Attorney General Davis Yost said.

“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.”

What happened to reveal the truth? Evidence revealed Alexander staged the deer taking at his sister’s property with the help of the brothers to “conceal the poaching,” investigators reported after receiving information alleging the deer was taken unlawfully.

Alexander reportedly told wildlife agents he harvested the deer on his sister’s land. Investigators obtained warrants to search his cell phone, which showed data proving he illegally hunted the buck on private property about 10 miles away from his sister’s property.

Alexander initially told investigators he happened upon the deer, the existence of which he was unaware, after a long day of hunting while hunting on property he was permitted to hunt. However, the deer reportedly was known for many years in Wilmington and often frequented a cemetery, according to a resident of the area in a phone call.

Kristina Alexander had falsified written permission for her brother to hunt her land to mislead authorities, according to investigators. She was charged for obstructing official business and aiding a wildlife offender, ordered to pay $500 in fines, $500 to the TIP program and court costs, and to serve 60 days in jail, suspended, and complete one year of monitored time supervision.

Corey P. Haunert was charged for attempted tampering with evidence, aiding a wildlife offender in taking or possessing deer (three counts), hunting without permission, and falsification. He was ordered to pay $500 in fines, pay $500 to TIP, pay additional court costs, serve 90 days in jail, suspended, complete 200 hours of community service and complete three years of community control. Also, his hunting license was taken away for three years and he forfeited a tree stand and crossbow.

Zachary R. Haunert was charged for aiding a wildlife offender and ordered to pay $250 in fines, pay $250 to TIP, pay additional court costs, serve 60 days in jail, suspended, and complete one year of monitored time supervision.

DON SHOOPMAN is outdoors editor of The Daily Iberian.