Ohio

Was it a hoax? 4 accused in illegal Ohio hunt of 18-point deer

Published

2 years ago

May 19, 2024

Was it a hoax? 4 accused in illegal Ohio hunt of 18-point deer

Dave Golowenski
| Columbus Dispatch

What end deer hunter Christopher J. Alexander foresaw in November when he reported the buck whose pinups drew raves couldn’t have been this one.

The tale Alexander related at the time hinted at fortune, not ruin. At fame, not infamy. A tangle of facts sometimes intrudes.

The story of the potential Ohio record buck hasn’t reached an end exactly. An indictment is only a charge. That holds true when even 23 charges and a grand jury are involved, as occurred early this month.

A Clinton County court ultimately will adjudicate the matter of guilt.

What Alexander, 28, of Wilmington, is accused of by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office boils down to felony fraud and to misdemeanor hunting violations, some of which are tied to more than a single deer.

But it was a single deer that commanded attention.

Mike Rex, an experienced measurer of antlers, an officer in the Buckeye Big Buck Club, and a longtime and successful hunter of trophy whitetails, took a close look soon after the Nov. 9 kill and declared, “It was the biggest set of antlers I’ve ever held in my hand.”

With only the slightest of reservations, Rex said in December he would support Alexander’s 18-point buck as a state record when in January a panel of measurers officially would put tape to the typical, that is, symmetrical rack.

Neither Rex nor most interested people at the time pondered reasons to doubt Alexander’s story about a surprise late-afternoon encounter with a distant deer carrying epic antlers on property his sister, Kristina Alexander, had only recently acquired.

The deer, Alexander said, seemed to be pursuing a doe when it fortuitously ambled to within about 7 yards of the tree stand and the waiting crossbow.

“I knew he was a giant,” the hunter said. “I didn’t know he might be a record.”

A few weeks after the kill, Alexander confided that he’d already been offered $20,000 for the antlers but was holding out until the official scoring. He said was willing to take the risk because the antlers might fetch $100,000 if determined to be a record.

The possibility that a giant buck could have been roaming the countryside not far from Wilmington unknown or unphotographed did seem unlikely in an age of preseason antler scouting and in-season trail cameras.

That Alexander’s chance deer had drawn attention and interest before its demise seemed unavoidable. And thus was the case.

The big buck generously had showed up for semiregular public viewing at a local cemetery. Its head and antlers mounted on some hunter’s wall wasn’t on the wish list of many who’d come to appreciate the deer’s stately presence among them.

How the Ohio Division of Wildlife was alerted hasn’t been revealed, but an investigation begun in December uncovered evidence that led to the indictments.

According to Attorney General David Yost’s office, Alexander claimed that the deer was shot and killed on the land owned by his sister, where he had written permission to hunt. However, an investigation by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which obtained a warrant for Alexander’s cellphone data, found that deer was illegally hunted on private property 10 miles from his sister’s land.

Alexander staged the deer taking at his sister’s property, according to Yost’s office, with the help of Corey Haunert and his brother, Zachary Haunert, to conceal the poaching. The written permission presented to wildlife officers was likewise falsified.

ODNR’s investigation also found that Corey Haunert aided Alexander in poaching deer on multiple occasions, according to Yost’s office.

Charges against Alexander include three felony counts of theft by deception and one felony count of tampering with evidence. Hunting violations, all misdemeanors, include multiple counts of hunting deer without written permission, taking possession of a deer in violation of a division rule, hunting without a license and hunting deer without a valid permit. Single counts include jacklighting, theft, falsification and sale of wildlife parts.

Corey Haunert, 29, of Hillsboro, was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with evidence and on misdemeanor charges including four counts of aiding a wildlife offender, two counts of hunting without permission and a single count of falsification.

Kristina Alexander, 37, of Blanchester, and Zachary Haunert, 31, of Lebanon, face two misdemeanor counts.

Contributing: Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer

outdoors@dispatch.com

Source link

Click to comment

Ohio

Hail slams parts of Northeast Ohio, damaging homes in Solon area

Published

8 hours ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

Hail slams parts of Northeast Ohio, damaging homes in Solon area

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Hail slammed parts of Northeast Ohio Wednesday, with Cuyahoga County seeing two-inch hail for the first time in six years.

Homes in the Solon area were hit hard. Windows were busted out, siding was punctured, and roofs need repair.

Ricky Campopiano, Owner of Campo Roofing, said his phone started ringing when he opened for business, primarily from people in the Solon area.

“We had over 1,000 people call our office and ask for us to come out,” Campopiano said.

Roof damage widespread

Campopiano said the damage was severe across the area.

“Pretty much every roof that I looked at [Thursday] had damage that you could see from the ground. It was a no-brainer, it has to get replaced,” he said.

Many homeowners likely called their insurance companies Thursday. Campopiano said insurers sometimes push back on full replacements.

“A lot of the times companies don’t want to replace all of the shingles, they just want to replace a facet or two,” he said.

Under Ohio law, if new shingles don’t match the color or quality of the ones already on a roof, the insurance company may be required to replace more of the roof until it looks the way it did before the storm.

The next 24 hours for damaged homes could include a tarp covering the roof to stop further damage.

Campopiano said after protecting the home the process involves identifying damage and having insurance come out to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to method of repair.

With so many homes damaged across northeast Ohio, repairs could take months or even years, depending on how bad the damage is, Campopiano said.

Source link

Ohio

Philanthropist E. Roe Stamps to deliver Ohio State’s spring commencement address

Published

20 hours ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

Philanthropist E. Roe Stamps to deliver Ohio State’s spring commencement address

Philanthropist and private investor E. Roe Stamps IV will deliver this year’s spring commencement address at The Ohio State University.

Beginning at noon at Ohio Stadium on Sunday, May 10, the commencement ceremony will feature the conferral of roughly 12,000 diplomas.

Stamps is best known as the co-founder of the Boston-based private equity and venture capital firm Summit Partners and the Stamps Scholars Program, a charitable initiative that provides scholarships to students at over three dozen universities worldwide. At Ohio State, around 50 students each year receive scholarships through the affiliated Stamps Eminence Scholarship Program.

“We look forward to welcoming Roe Stamps to our university to share words of wisdom with the Class of 2026,” said President Ravi V. Bellamkonda. “Roe is a champion for the transformative power of higher education, and he has been an extraordinary partner in building a tradition of excellence at Ohio State. His lessons on service and creating impact will be of great value to our graduates as they prepare to take their next steps.”

“It is a true honor to deliver the 2026 commencement address to The Ohio State University’s graduating class,” Stamps said. “Ohio State is an extraordinary institution, and through the Stamps Scholars partnership with the university, our family has had the privilege of getting to know many remarkable Buckeye students. I look forward to being on campus and celebrating alongside the graduates as they mark this important milestone and begin the next chapter of their journeys.”

Stamps holds degrees in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech University and an MBA from Harvard. Following early career experiences in venture capital in Chicago and Boston, he co-founded Summit Partners with Steve Woodsum in 1984, working as a managing director before transferring daily operations to several partners in 2001. Summit Partners currently has $44 billion in assets under management and has invested in over 550 companies.

Stamps is also passionate about investing in education and communities. Beyond the Stamps Scholars Program, he is a trustee emeritus of the Georgia Tech Foundation. He also supports a variety of charities in the Miami region where he resides, including the University of Miami, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida and Miami Lighthouse for the Blind.

In addition to delivering his address, Stamps will receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree at the commencement ceremony in recognition of his dedication to advancing educational opportunities and his other philanthropic contributions.

Tahlman Krumm Jr. and Edgar Lampert will receive the university’s Distinguished Service Award.

';

Source link

Ohio

Joseph D. Schiavone, Youngstown, Ohio

Published

1 day ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Joseph D. Schiavone, 85, Co-Owner and operator of Schiavone Funeral Home, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Joe was born on April 11, 1941, in Youngstown, to his parents Joseph Schiavone and Louise Massaro Schiavone.

A band member and 1959 graduate of Ursuline High School, Joe pursued higher education earnestly, earning an Associate Degree from Youngstown State University and completing his studies at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1962.

His professional journey began with a one-year apprenticeship at the Schiavone Funeral Home, followed by a year of dedicated service in Tiltonsville, Ohio, eventually returning to Youngstown where he continued his career with distinction.

Joe was known not only of his commitment to his work but also for his entrepreneurial spirit, particularly in his passionate pursuit of vintage automobiles. At the young age of sixteen, he built his first car, a 1932 Ford Coupe, igniting a lifelong enthusiasm for street rods, European classics, and unique American automobiles. His remarkable collection earned him various awards and recognition within the car enthusiast community. Joe was affectionately known as “Mr. Fix It” among family and friends, a testament to his skill and ability to solve most problems.

Joe enjoyed the simple things in life, such as working outside and woodworking, along with his love of “oldies” music. These hobbies complemented his personality, often times enriching the lives of those around him.

He was a nominee for the Brier Hill Man of the Year in 2026, a testament to his profound impact on and contributions to his community where he was a dedicated and contributing member of Saint Anthony of Padua Church.

Family was a central part of Joe’s life. He is survived by his two sons, Brian J. Schiavone (Thu T. Ngo) of Chicago, Illinois, and Edward J. Schiavone of Menlo Park, California; his daughter Elaina L. Schiavone of Youngstown; his three cherished granddaughters, Maleah K. Schiavone of Columbus, Liliana M. Schiavone of Youngstown, and Sophia L. Schiavone of Chicago, Illinois. He is also remembered fondly by his sister, Marie A. Lorubbio, his brother John D. Schiavone, both of Struthers, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

Joe was preceded in death by his beloved parents, his devoted wife, JoAnn M. Colonna Schiavone, whom he married October 15, 1964 and died November 13, 2013, and his daughter Yvette M. Schiavone who died at a young age.

Those who knew Joe will remember his quirky sense of humor, his strength in character, his supportive nature, and his firm beliefs and faith that guided him through life’s challenges. His legacy is one of resilience, dedication, and deep love for both his family and his unique interests.

Gathering of family and friends will be held at Schiavone Funeral Home, 1842 Belmont Ave., Youngstown, Ohio 44504, on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., followed by A Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. in St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1125 Turin Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44510. Burial will be at Tod Homestead Cemetery, 2200 Belmont Ave., Youngstown, Ohio 44505 following mass.

Contributions made in Joe’s memory to the charity of your choice.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph D. Schiavone, please visit our flower store.

Source link