Harrison County Deer Processor Pleads Guilty | OHUB News

Once we normally see wildlife circumstances, they sometimes contain poaching or related points. Nonetheless, it’s somewhat rarer in relation to circumstances towards deer processors, particularly when they’re illegally promoting venison that’s supposed for local food pantries.

Operation Donor Deer Nets 35 Convictions in Ohio 

A prolonged investigation by the Ohio Division of Pure Assets Division of Wildlife has wrapped up in Harrison County, and the outcomes are vital. Dubbed Operation Donor Deer, the case led to the conviction of 35 people for a mixed 55 wildlife violations tied to a neighborhood deer processor.

Unlawful Venison Gross sales on the Heart

On the coronary heart of the case was Rodney Shields, 59, proprietor of Rod’s Customized Deer Processing in Harrisville, Ohio. Investigators discovered Shields unlawfully offered venison — together with meat from correctly checked deer that had been donated to native meals pantries.

Shields pleaded responsible in Harrison County Widespread Pleas Court docket to seven expenses, together with felony counts of obstructing justice, theft by deception, and unlawful gross sales, together with a number of misdemeanor theft expenses and possession of untagged deer. He was ordered to pay $16,500 in restitution, obtained 17 months of suspended jail time, and can serve two years of group management.

Extra Defendants and Penalties

Robert Sliva and Thomas Bibeau additionally entered responsible pleas on numerous misdemeanor expenses. Collectively, defendants within the case have been assessed $6,313 in fines, eight years of searching license suspensions, and 24 months of suspended jail time.

Zooming Out

This can be a unhappy story. Ohio hunters are doing a superb factor by donating venison to meals banks to assist these in want. Particularly across the holidays. In fact, individuals will all the time attempt to damage a superb factor by being egocentric. As a substitute of handing the venison over to meals banks, Shields and the others tried to make a fast buck (pun supposed). Hopefully, this case will persuade others to comply with the principles.

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Cory Ross

Cory Ross labored within the firearms trade for almost 13 years earlier than shifting to writing full-time. Throughout that interval, he was lucky to work with and construct relationships with some unimaginable individuals and corporations. He additionally accomplished a Grasp of Arts in Historical past from Cleveland State College, the place he focused on American Imperialism. Whereas he loves capturing and all issues firearm, his different hobbies embrace coaching, gear, studying, movie, and watches. He contributes to a number of different publications, together with Outside HUB, The MDT Weblog, Athlon Properties, Weapons & Ammo Precision Rifle Shooter, E book of the AR-15, Capturing Occasions, Safariland Cadre Dispatch, The Armory Life, and Capturing Information Weekly, amongst others.