RICHMOND, Va. -- The Richmond man accused of illegally killing the rare Hollywood buckin December 2023, was arrested and charged with a number of violations, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR).
Jason Walters, 36, was arrested Sunday and now faces 19 separate wildlife violations all related to the deaths of three deer in Virginia.
One of those deer, was the Hollywood Buck, a deer that was known to roam the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond's Oregon Hill neighborhood, and was a familiar presence to residents living nearby.
Major Ryan Shuler, the Deputy Chief of the Virginia DWR says conservation officers recovered two sets of antlers - including those from the Hollywood buck.
"These officers executed 10 separate search warrants, conducted numerous suspect interviews, and had to comb through a considerable amount of data and information," Shuler said.
Another man, 36-year-old Alan Proffitt also of Richmond, was arrested, as police believe him to be an accomplice in the killings of the deer.
In December, Walters posted pictures of himself to the Star City Whitetails Facebook page, posing with what is believed to be the Hollywood Buck, dead.
He claimed to have killed the deer in Prince Edward County using a muzzleloader, the DWR said.
After the photo made its rounds on Facebook, many members of the hunting and wildlife communities raised concerns to police as well as the DWR Law Enforcement, as they suspected that the Hollywood Buck was killed illegally.
Marlon Dance, an avid hunter and owner of Dance's Sporting Goods says he was angry when he learned the story behind the photo.
"I just wonder why, whenever I read or see something like this, I wonder possible could motivate anybody to do something so stupid," Dance said.
The charges against Walters include the illegal possession of wildlife, trespassing, failing to check and tag a deer, earning a buck violation, and littering.
Dance says he hopes the arrests send a message to those who hunt illegally, and that he would "throw the book" at Walters.
"It's a bad feather made in the heat of all great ethical hunters when somebody goes out and does something like that," Dance said. "We all play by the rules and do what we're supposed to do. Whether we like the rules or not, the outdoor community is pretty damn good about it."
Shuler released the following statement after Walters' arrest:
“Our officers immediately began their investigation upon learning of the potential violation of Virginia’s wildlife laws. The CPOs involved in the investigation devoted countless hours to gathering evidence in this case. We appreciate the support of the Richmond and Chesterfield County police departments, as well as Hollywood Cemetery and the James River Park System in bringing the suspect to justice. The illegal killing of this deer was a blow to the community and damaged the reputation of law-abiding hunters across the Commonwealth.
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This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
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