In Virginia, a man who is known for hunting the 'Hollywood Buck' now faces jail time and the loss of his hunting license for more than 25 years.

A hunter in Virginia is facing legal consequences after pleading guilty to killing a beloved deer on the grounds of the historic Hollywood Cemetery.

Two hunters were charged separately for the killing of the "Hollywood Buck."

In Richmond General District Court, Jason Walters of Richmond, Virginia, pleaded guilty to all 20 misdemeanors he faced, as reported by Fox Richmond and other outlets.

Walters will be fined on all counts and pay over $13,000 in restitution for non-jailable offenses, according to Denise Anderson, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for the Virginia Commonwealth, who shared this information via email to Planet Chronicle Digital.

The Richmond poacher received a sentence of 80 months, with 76 of those months suspended.

Anderson stated that Walters will be serving an active sentence of 4 months in the Richmond Jail and has almost 7 years of suspended jail time hanging over his head.

"His plea agreement requires him to comply with all provisions, exhibit good behavior, and abide by all laws of the Commonwealth and the City of Richmond."

Walters' hunting license has been suspended for 75 years, with 25 years of active loss.

The plea agreement's terms must be complied with by Walters for his remaining 75 years to be determined.

The "Hollywood Buck" was killed by the second hunter, Alan Proffitt.

Anderson stated that Alan Proffitt pleaded guilty to all 6 charges and received a $250 fine on the 5 counts, which were not bailable.

"He was sentenced to 6 months in jail, with 5 months suspended, and his hunting license privileges were revoked for 5 years, with 4 years suspended on each of the 6 counts. This amounts to a 6-year loss of his hunting privileges, subject to his maintaining good behavior and adhering to all laws of the Commonwealth and the City of Richmond."

‘A real showstopper’

A giant buck killed by a Virginia hunter became the focus of news after photos were shared on Jeff Phillips' Facebook page, Star City Whitetails.

There, hunters throughout Virginia share their hunting achievements and photographic evidence.

Phillips hosts an annual buck contest during deer season in Virginia, according to him.

Enthusiasts of hunting can submit images of their greatest achievements, similar to Walters.

"All three deer were harvested in that cemetery."

In November of last year, a hunter shared two nice deer, and then he sent in a third one. All three deer were eventually harvested in a cemetery, but the third one was particularly impressive, according to Phillips, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital.

The host of the Facebook page did not consider the photos Walters sent him and posted the supposed achievement on his significant page.

This morning at 713am, I shot a 50 cal muzzleloader at 20 yards and killed a 713am buck, my third mount this year. It was the biggest buck of my life!

Internet sleuths immediately recognized the unusual 29-point whitetail as the buck that resided near Hollywoord Cemetery due to its distinctive antlers.

Phillips quickly realized it was the legendary "Hollywood Buck."

"Within 10 minutes of posting on my page, someone who follows my page sent me a private message with pictures of a deer taken by a wildlife photographer in the Richmond area, which Phillips quickly recognized as the legendary 'Hollywood Buck'."

The initial comments on the poacher's post were congratulatory, but soon turned against him as users shared their own photos of the famous buck.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources contacted Phillips within 24 hours to request any information he had on Walters and the photos he had received for his Facebook page, he stated.

Last year, the Virginia Department of Wildlife reported that members of the hunting and wildlife viewing communities had alerted DWR Law Enforcement about a buck that was frequently seen at the Hollywood Cemetery in the Oregon Hill neighborhood of Richmond. They expressed concern that the buck had been killed illegally.

The suspect was contacted and evidence was recovered before it was determined that the buck had been killed illegally by the Department of Wildlife Resources Law Enforcement.

Major Ryan Shuler, Deputy Chief of DWR Law Enforcement, stated in a release that the illegal killing of the Hollywood Cemetery buck is a serious violation of Virginia's wildlife laws and will be a priority for the Conservation Police Officers assigned to the investigation until all leads have been exhausted, all evidence has been collected, and those involved have been charged.

For years, the "Hollywood Buck" roamed the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, becoming a beloved creature among the neighborhood residents.

The buck's size made it so beloved and recognizable.

"The deer with antlers like that must be at least 6 or 7 years old," said Phillips. "It would need to be that age to reach its full potential and live out most of its life in privacy and protection."

"Ultimately, or in that cemetery, there were deer living in that neighborhood, and there's no hunting there," he added.

Walters' decision to share the photos with Star City Whitetails ultimately led to his exposure, which amazed Phillips.

"There are individuals who commit acts of violence solely for the sake of personal glory and ego enhancement," he stated.

He expressed the hope that getting into trouble for this would alter his behavior.

Despite the unhappy circumstances, Phillips expressed gratitude that his Facebook page played a crucial role in the man's capture.

Phillips stated that the page and its followers were crucial in helping law enforcement catch the suspect, as without the posted pictures, he may not have been caught.