Thirty-five defendants were convicted of 55 total violations in relation to Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ investigation
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- A deer processing facility unlawfully sold donated venison, which was meant to go to food pantries, a state investigation determined
- Thirty-five defendants were convicted of 55 total violations, said the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife
- The facility owner, Rodney Shields, pled guilty to seven charges, including three felony counts and four misdemeanors, resulting in more than $16,000 in restitution and nearly a year and a half in suspended jail time
A deer processing facility sold donated venison that was meant to be distributed to food pantries, a state investigation concluded.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’s Division of Wildlife recently closed its investigation into Harrisville-based Rod’s Custom Deer Processing, finding that the business sold donated venison, which was supposed to be given to food pantries. The investigation, called “Operation Donor Deer,” concluded Feb. 20, and resulted in 35 defendants convicted of 55 total violations, ODNR shared in a statement.
ODNR found Rodney Shields, owner of the deer processing facility, was connected to “numerous wildlife violations,” including unlawful sale of venison. Shields later 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.
For his role, 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. In addition, he was sentenced to 17 months of suspended jail time and two years of community control…