Another chapter in the CJ Alexander story has come, and the latest version of what might have happened is a far cry from the original. The story began last November when Christopher “CJ” Alexander killed a giant Ohio buck that could easily be one of the biggest bucks of all time.
He quickly began to make the rounds, sharing his story for a number of podcasts and articles. Unfortunately, a number of folks didn’t think his story added up.
As with any record buck, the skeptics and critics came out in full force. But there seemed to be more than the average online jealousy and opposition in this case. Especially when the buck was confiscated by state officials. Still, Alexander held is ground and claimed innocence.
However, the latest development in this highly controversial hunting story finds Alexander being indicted on 23 charges as a result of an investigation by the Ohio DNR. A release from the state’s Attorney General delivers a different look at what actually happened.
“Blinded by greed, the defendants set their sights on fame and fortune while disregarding basic hunting regulations,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “Instead of the cover of Field & Stream, their notoriety will be a booking photo.”
Alexander claimed the animal had been on property owned by his sister, Kristina Alexander, when he harvested the deer. He even presented written permission from his sister to a wildlife officer. It seemed as if he had himself covered with his plan.
However, the ongoing investigation by Ohio DNR revealed incriminating evidence that would speak otherwise.
A release from AG Yost’s office states…
Wildlife officers discovered through warranted searches of cellphone data that Christopher Alexander had illegally hunted the trophy buck on private property about 10 miles from his sister’s land, and later learned that the written permission from his sister he had presented to wildlife officers had been falsified – after the deer was killed – to mislead authorities. Evidence revealed Christopher Alexander staged the deer taking at his sister’s property with the help of Corey P. Haunert and his brother, Zachary R. Haunert, to conceal the poaching.
The investigation also found that Corey Haunert aided Christopher Alexander in poaching deer on multiple occasions, providing the crossbow used to hunt and assisting in deer retrieval and staging with Zachary Haunert. Kristina Alexander is accused of falsifying the date when the written permission to hunt occurred.
The Charges in the CJ Alexander Case
Christopher Alexander, 28, of Wilmington, faces 23 total charges:
- Five counts each of illegally hunting deer without written permission (M3) and taking possession of a deer in violation of a division rule (M3)
- Three counts of theft by deception (F4 and F5).
- Two counts each of hunting without a license (M4), hunting deer without a valid deer permit (M4) and tampering with evidence (F3)
- One count each of jacklighting (M3), theft (M1), falsification (M1) and sale of wildlife parts (M4)
Corey Haunert, 29, of Hillsboro, faces eight charges:
- Four counts of aiding a wildlife offender (M3)
- Two counts of hunting without written permission (M3)
- One count each of tampering with evidence (F3) and falsification (M1)
Kristina Alexander, 37, of Blanchester, faces one count of falsification (M1) and one count of aiding a wildlife offender (M3), and Zachary Haunert, 31, of Lebanon, faces two misdemeanor counts of aiding a wildlife offender (M3).
“This once-in-a-lifetime deer embodies the great natural resources Ohio has to offer,” Yost added. “It is shameful that this deer ended up in an evidence room rather than adorning an ethical hunter’s wall as a prized trophy.”
What do you think? Is there a major twist in this story yet to be revealed? Alexander is considered innocent until proven guilty – but is he?
Comment below, and let us know what you think.
