Image: sold_donated_venison

A deer processor received fines and suspended jail time after authorities say he unlawfully sold donated venison. Photo by Bill Konway.

An owner of an Ohio deer processing facility pled guilty to several charges for selling donated venison that was meant to help feed the underprivileged.

People reports that after an investigation, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife concluded that Harrisville-based Rod's Custom Deer Processing sold donated venison, which was supposed to be given to food pantries. ODNR recently issued a statement saying the investigation, Operation Donor Deer, which concluded Feb. 20, resulted in 35 defendants convicted of 55 total violations.

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Rodney Shields, owner of the deer processing facility, pled guilty to seven charges, including felony counts of obstruction of justice, theft by deception and illegal sales, as well as four misdemeanors in relation to the investigation.

Shields was ordered to pay $16,500 in restitution, with the funds being distributed between ODNR's wildlife division and those who should have received the venison via food pantries. He was also sentenced to 17 months of suspended jail time and two years of community control.

Additional individuals implicated were Robert Sliva, who pled guilty to three misdemeanors, and Thomas Bibeau, who pled guilty to one. Both men were ordered to pay a $500 fine and complete one year of probation. Their sentences included 30 and 60 days of suspended jail time, respectively, with Bibeau also losing his hunting license for one year.