A 21-year-old Ohio man, Carter Hickey, has been convicted of 17 wildlife crimes related to poaching and illegal hunting tactics, stemming from an investigation that spanned nearly 20 states. A judge ordered Hickey to pay $35,000 in fines and restitution, serve 15 days in jail, and post an apology on TikTok for his actions.
Wildlife Law Violations
Hickey pleaded guilty to charges including slaughtering wildlife during off-seasons, hunting without permission, and using a motor vehicle to kill animals. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which led the probe, also seized 115 pounds of turkey meat and 47 turkey fans from Hickey.
"These weren’t small mistakes," said service spokesperson Tina Shaw. "While he was busy poaching, Hickey posted false information about his activities on TikTok, bragging about his hunting skills, despite many of his actions being illegal."
Sentencing and Penalties
In addition to the jail time and fines, Hickey was sentenced to 15 months of community control sanctions, 80 hours of community service, and ordered to pay court costs. He must also pay $12,000 in restitution and a $5,000 contribution to the Ohio Turn In a Poacher program. His hunting license has been revoked for five years.
Hickey was also required to write a letter to the City of Dover for trespassing and unlawfully taking a 10-point buck in a public park. As of Sunday, Hickey had not yet posted the required apology video on TikTok.