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FWC Files 28 Charges Against Bratt Man For Selling Deer Meat
September 14, 2018
A Bratt man is facing over two dozen charges after he allegedly sold illegal deer meat to an undercover Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer.
Hunter Anthony Chavers, 23, was arrested this week on eight felony counts of selling an illegally taken deer, four counts of possession of freshly killed deer out of season, eight counts of not possessing evidence of a deer’s gender and eight counts of failing to tag deer meat.
On January 29, Chavers met an undercover FWC officer in the parking lot of the Tom Thumb in Molino. He sold the officer meat from two deer for $120 cash, and the transaction was witnessed by a second FWC officer from a nearby location, according to a warrant affidavit.
On February 13, Chavers contacted the undercover FWC officer, met him at the Tom Thumb and again sold him the meat from two deer, court documents state.
Investigators said Chavers sold them the meat from another deer on February 23, and three additional deer on March 15. Deer season in Florida closed on February 25.
On March 22, FWC officers said they were conducting surveillance on Chaver’s vehicle when he walked to the bed of a pickup truck, opened a cooler and removed the head of a freshly killed buck. He placed the head on the ground and took several photographs with his phone, officers said.
The FWC said Chavers illegally possessed and delivered eight deer, three of which were out of hunting season, to an undercover FWC investigator.
Chavers did not have a hunting license or deer permit from the FWC. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday with bond set at $28,000.
Additional charges in the case are possible.
Much of the deer meat was donated to the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida.
Comments
60 Responses to “FWC Files 28 Charges Against Bratt Man For Selling Deer Meat”
What he did was wrong, but do is fighting chickens and dogs , but some people seam to get away with that.wonder why that is.
Lock um up and toss the key away!!!!
Not too terribly long ago you could hunt for weeks and not see a deer. People like this person have no regard for the rights of others to enjoy the outdoors. This person is stealing from me and my family because we chose to obey the laws he chose to ignore.
The other point about convicted felons voting………If you choose to break the laws of this state and country you should not be allowed to participate in the legislative process. In simple terms you should not be allowed to vote on people that are making laws you chose to break. Most anyone involved in the criminal justice system knows a convicted felon usually has had many breaks and even more violations that were plead down or dismissed in a deal making process.
REGARDING:
“a dictator could easily nullify entire segments of America by simply charging citizens with bogus felonies”
Actually, conviction is required and the crime doesn’t have to be a felony, but, yes, that is a real danger.
*”nor did our forefathers who NEVER authorized felony disenfranchisement until after the Civil War to quell a rebellion by taking the vote away as necessary.”*
They withheld many rights before the unCivil War. Slaves got no vote nor right to keep and bear arms. People without land were often not allowed to vote. The 14th was not passed to end a rebellion or other conflict. Further, it had implications not realized at the time.
Most of the protections of the Bill of Rights were not extended down to the state level until #14. It also included the means to withdraw them. This is VERY dangerous.
David for hazard awareness
Richardson v. Ramirez, 418 U.S. 24 (1974), the Supreme Court affirmed felony disenfranchisement as part of the sentencing of a convicted felon, where California was denying voting rights to convicted felons for “infamous crimes”, while the 14th amendment in section 2 talks about “except for participation in rebellion, or other crime,” as the 14th amendment was fighting for inclusion in voting.in the former confederacy. A challenge is long over due. Ramirez allows states to take away your gun rights and voting rights not by the required compelling state interest test, rather all a state has to do is show a rational basis to take away fundamental rights of American citizens. So what is to stop the state from taking his right to a jury trial, right to require a warrant before his house is searched, or the right to free speech.
States are making reforms on disenfranchisement, but the Ramirez case fails the equal protection test and the Supreme Court must revisit this issue as a dictator could easily nullify entire segments of America by simply charging citizens with bogus felonies as a very liberal court passed Ramirez giving big brother too much discretion without equal protection for American citizens. The charging of felonies should be a very serious determination, not some scorecard where some folks think putting non violent people in jail and bankrupting America is helping society. Sorry, I do not trust big government, nor did our forefathers who NEVER authorized felony disenfranchisement until after the Civil War to quell a rebellion by taking the vote away as necessary.
He knew what he was doing was wrong, he got caught doing it, he was robbing society of a resource, don’t shed a tear for a thief
BRAVO FWC OFFICERS! Keep up the good work! I am tired of being woke up at night with guns going off from illegal hunting and trespassing at night. All those who have been doing it and not got caught yet. Beware you could be next! I have FWC on speed dial so dont come to Oak Grove.
REGARDING:
“Where in the constitution does it say a felon loses his right to own a gun or vote?”
The felon does not HAVE to lose any rights, but states are ALLOWED to take away rights from convicted criminals by the 14th Amendment. Up until then, states had nearly unlimited power to withhold rights even to taking away all rights as slaves. #14 limited that power but specifically allowed it for crimes.
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution:
Section 1..No State shall…abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2…the right to vote…or in any way abridged, except for…or other crime,…
Notice it does not even specify the crime be a felony. It could be jaywalking or not having your seatbelt buckled.
Anyhow, that’s where.
David for civil answers
Hunter is a good kid with a good heart! He’ ll help anyone he can. He might have went about this the wrong way but all those felonies? We have more than 5 meth houses in this area of walnut hill, century, canoe , and Flomaton! Why s no one doing anything about those places instead of putting so much time and energy into this? These sick people are getting kids addicted and arrested but yet they are going free!! I’m not saying the way he went about this is right but there’s more important things that needs to be dealt with than this! In the last month alone we’ve have several things stolen from our yard from the meth headed kids!!So I guess if you hit a deer with your car and take it home you could get a felony too??This is a little extreme!! Keep your head up Hunter , you still got good people that will be here for you!
I wish that FWC would put as much effort into catching some of the other young men who are trespassing and hunting on others property. Hunter did wrong but they strung him out . They should have gotten him long ago, but they wanted to set him up. There are others doing what he did but not selling the deer and FWC has got them once however they are right back at it and have gotten good and they know it. I wish FWC would work on the others even though it will require some serious effort. I’m not bashing them just frustrated with them. Trespassing up here is a real problem and no one wants to deal with it . Shooting deer up here is a real problem please FWC put the same effort into the hard ones to catch as you did Hunter.
Better to have been caught by FWC than to have been cornered by some of these Harassed Property Owners.
After reading comments on both sides of the spectrum, it plain to see some don’t understand the full circumstances surrounding this arrest.Some of you knowing only what you’ve read, some of you knowing Hunter. For those knowing this individual and his actions, now maybe you can have Peace and Quite in you Neighborhood again.
No one has mentioned the fact of safety…when he is sneaking onto property and shooting a gun, that is bad enough in hunting season when other hunters are aware that others may be hunting, but out of season is 10x worse…wake up people!! Just follow the rules!
For those of you saying felonies we’re too much. He tresspassed multiple times with a firearm. Each time he did it was one felony charge. Discharging that firearm is another felony. He also violated the Pittman Robertson act by selling dear meat.For those that don’t know the Pittman Robertson act puts an excise tax on hunting equipment that funds wildlife conservation. It also protects wild game animals from sale. It was established because hunting was unregulated until 1937 when this act was established. Deer, turkeys,ducks and many other animals we’re almost hunted to extinction for their commercial value.
First off there is a reason they have hunting season. Another thing he was seen sneaking into a hunting club, where other people have to pay club dues. What about driving down the road shooting the deer at night. I don’t kno why so many of you think it’s alright. The hunting rules are for everyone. So he’s not exempt he s no better than anyone else.
Hunter is a good guy . He does not deserve to be set up . There’s a lot of criminals out here that need to be investigated set the drug dealers up .
This guy would be charged with nothing if he had spent his $$ with the state of FL obtaining permits / license fees. Its all about a dollar here people & the fact that he didnt give his $ to the state.charging this guy with a felony is ridiculous . This is All a money racket..
Also for everyone that’s thinking he needed the money for food .Hunter has always worked and had a decent income it’s not about money or eating to him it’s to see how many he can kill and get away with because to him it’s just a thrill .if he was hungry he would have kept the meat for himself .he’s not a sportsman nor a hunter
@Grandlocust–When our forefathers wrote about our liberties, I doubt they considered that every square inch of property everywhere would either be private or government owned. Can’t even find riverfront property here, the state owns it all. So basically, we have these liberties, we just can’t assert them. Besides, Government has taken all liberties. They sell them back to you in the form of a hunting license for example. Well regulated of course.
@Rick–what resources was he using that your tax dollars and permit fees pay for ?
While I abhor the two faced agency that is FWC, I don’t agree with him killing deer to sell. However, I do believe you should be able to kill enough deer to support your family regardless of when or how. Same goes for fishing. My husband has never had a license. Of course we raise our own beef, rabbit, turkey, quail, and vegetables. We keep dependence on society for our survival at a minimum. We also eat snake, turtle, alligator, hog, etc. FWC have really turned into a sort of meter maid.
He is a killer not a hunter.Poarchers are coming in at nite on my land killing Deer.I wonder about the cut of a man who kills for a living.One thing to feed family another to kill for money.They said Bison would always be there . They killed abt 9 Million of them.Shame on you young man.If you have children ,not a good thing for them to see.Prayers for you..Hope things work out.
Stiff fine.
But should be enjoying the quiet with a few less shots fired at night around here.
Good job.
Seems to be another example of the law being above the law. They bought from him 4 times over 3 months, and charge him with 28 counts? Some felonys!?! Thats low down and dirty! He is not a bad kid. I’m glad he wasn’t really doing wrong, like robbery or murder!! But looks like he would have faired better if he had..SMH
Bluesman……go back to law school. Your liberty rights end with my property rights and the state’s property rights. The legislature authorized when folks can take the people of the State of Florida’s property by issuing licenses and permits. In the absence of the same, a person is stealing from every citizen. We are a nation of laws and there is no fundamental right to steal the people’s property.
Now making this a felony……I am beginning to sound like a broken record where it seems like someboy’s life mission is to take away folks constitutional rights where this man will not be able to have a gun if he is convicted of a felony, and he will lose his right to vote. Where in the constitution does it say a felon loses his right to own a gun or vote…..Why all the upcharging to felonies? Barney has taken over and Andy has left the building. He should be punished……but a felony. Stop it.
Acts 11:7 says arise kill and eat….. but it don’t say nothing about selling it.
We are condemned to pay for the sins of our fore fathers………..
Well legally according to the constitution he can fight and win this case per supreme court rulings
“No state shall convert a liberty into a license, and charge a fee therefore.” (Murdock v. Pennsylvania, 319 U.S. 105)
“If the State converts a right (liberty) into a privilege, the citizen can ignore the license and fee and engage in the right (liberty) with impunity.” (Shuttlesworth v. City of Birmingham, Alabama, 373 U.S. 262)
FWC…..Why was he not arrested on 1/29/18 the date you first purchased two deer from him? Then you purchased 2 on 2/13/18 then 1 on 2/23/18 then 3 on 3/15/18. Seems like a lot of pouching could have been avoided. Thank God he was not a serial killer you were postponing to arrest.
Terra: Nobody is bashing him for killing deer. The issue is he took all these resources without a license. Get a license, the appropriate permits, hunt during the season and don’t sell deer meat. If he had done that no one would have any issue with him, even the FWC. And remember people, the game wardens didn’t write these laws and statutes, our lawmakers did. All they do is enforce the laws.
Even using depradation permits, you have to possess a valid hunting license. Why should he be able to hunt and use resources that our taxes, license and permits support? Sure, its not the crime of the century, but it is still wrong.
@ Nod@Terra, for all those full of symphathy, sometimes the offence is not as bad as the offender. Just maybe after years of slipping thru the cracks and multiple complaints , the State decided to step up and stop the actions of this individual. Long Overdue.
Please, a felony?
Get out of here.
I got deer eatin up my pear crop.
Somebody please get a permit and come blast these “wanna-be” goats.
Why didn’t they arrest him the first time he broke the law instead of setting him up for more and more and more and more. Seems like these here feds helped him break the law. Maybe they should be arrested also.
Thank god they removed this dangerous criminal from the woods. Gosh. Selling deer meat is super scary. How do live with yourself sir? *rolls eyes*
That’s a high bond! Put that on meth heads, and they won’t be out of jail the next day!
Another question is where did he kill those deer? If he didn’t kill them on his property were they even his deer to sell? Lots of questions but the main thing I see is that the sale of meat has to be regulated, and buying it out of the back of a truck is and should always be against the law
If he is just trying to live and had to do this for the money………how about college and maybe a job? Then there is no reason to break any laws
This is hunters girlfriend and this says nothing about the type person he is. No me nor his family knew what he was doing, and we definitely aren’t saying what he did was right. But I think they are taking this a little to far. Also I feel out of respect for the family they should’ve waited until the case was closed to be publishing anything about it. Hunter has a great heart, and us who love him will be standing by his side to fight through this. Bashing someone for killing some deer isn’t going to make you sleep better at night, just think about that. Praying for all the negative Nancy’s of this world.
He’s not a “Hunter” he’s a poacher. If he needs money, he needs to get a job like the rest of us. Good Job FWC.
so this guy’s bond is more than the guy trying to kill with a machete and the woman shooting at the guy because of a drug deal gone bad. smh
Yes it says obey the laws of land but do you know the exact meaning of that? When was it illegal for the Indians to hunt all year round and provide for their tribes? This falls back in the ages, when the declaration of independence saying that America was free no our actual freedom was forfit long ago and you can’t hunt nor fish now without having to pay to feed your family in every sense of the words. Freedom is strictly limited and yes I believe we need a system to manage the wildlife but there are good people still in this world that absolutely love the outdoors and have no other means to eat and survive without having to hunt and fish and grow their own food. My opinion says that the wildlife management systems needs to come up with different laws than punishing people who are hungry and not entrap good people who’s just trying to make it in this world. I believe that this guy should’ve waited til hunting season but then again fish and maintain your garden until the different seasons are available
Market hunting is what nearly wiped out the buffalo, even without the use of night vision scopes, suppressors, 4×4s, etc. What do you yall thing would happen to deer with the current products available if market hunting were allowed? This isn’t someone “living off the land like God intended”, this is someone shooting deer out of season and exploiting a natural resource for personal gain.
felony ? Get real FWC, it wouldnt be an issue if he had purchased a license & deprivation permit from the state . Go catch a real criminal please!
It’s amazing how many readers here think that their gut feelings somehow override the law.
Break the law, take the hit.
GOOD JOB FWC, and for all those that don’t understand, donating the meat would have been the appropriate thing to do, not selling it for personal gain, this was a long time coming.
@ Fred and Loyd:
I don’t think the FWC (Florida Wildlife Commission) works street drugs and violent crimes. They are the wildlife police. It’s right there in their title. It is their job to enforce the laws of game and wildlife management. There are other agencies who work dope and violent crimes. Seems to me that they did exactly what they they are supposed to do and what the taxpayers pay them to do.
The law is the law. It’s not his job to control the wild life. He is able to get a real job, I am glad FWC got him and I hope they get anymore that does the same thing.
For all of you who are supporting Mr. Chaves would you feel the same way if he had trespassed onto your land because that’s what he did I am a Avid hunter but there is a legal way to do this and plenty of other ways of making an honest living
run his name on the clerk of the court website, this ain’t this cowboys first rodeo…and he ain’t “doin’ what he can to pay the bills” either. Day labor is available ALL THE TIME… go swing a hammer, mud some sheet rock, push a broom, sling some sod, shovel some dirt That is “doin’ what you can to pay the bills”.
FWC was doing what they were sworn to do. If not for them all these poachers would kill, not harvest all the deer they could and then what would we do after college football season on the weekends? Seriously…this guy has more than selling of illegal deer meat going on. And for the record, all the effort put in at hunting camps and people’s private land scouting for deer and setting up stands and blinds and for some knuckleheads to kill the deer you’ve been working to harvest. since the deer “is over populated”, let’s just shoo them at will. Better yet, educate yourself on the data or maybe become an FWC Officer. Just because you think you see more deer on the highway or pastures or cotton fields, peanut fields etc…doesn’t mean the deer “is over populated”.
The FWC gives out thousands of permits to farmers to kill deer and let them lay in a field and waste but charge someone 8 felonies for eating them or selling them for someone to supposedly eat. The FWC threw all the meat they bought away. I’ve known Hunter for 15 years. The law will ruin a good person but let democrats and sorry people do whatever. You can’t even shoot guns or hunt anymore without the law giving you a felony or a ticket.
Bible says obey the laws of the land, but lawful laws. Fishing and hunting are given to us by the Lord. The hunting and fishing laws are designed to help big business.
DON’T YOU HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN TO GET A HUNTER WHAT ABOUT LOOKING FOR THE ROBBERS AND DOPE HEADS ………………………………………………………………………………………
Hey FWC, maybe y’all can try and catch a BAD guy next time. FWC gotta get a man who all he’s doing is trying to live. FWC this isn’t work, this was the easiest thing you could find to do. FWC gotta go after this non-violent man who’s actually helping the community by keeping the deer population down.
@ Fred – The Bible also says “Obey the laws of the land”
BUSTED!! Good job FWC!
This guy broke a lot of laws, yes. However, if legally hunted, selling venison, wild hog ducks, rabbits, etc., ought to be legal. People should be able to buy at their own risk from their trusted vendor. This limitation is archaic and needs to change.
Well, his first name is “Hunter”..
5-4-3-2-1 cue the enablers and apologists. They have already started showing up on FB. These are the same people who are perplexed when they lose their hunting areas and rights because of behavior like this. It is called “game management” for a reason. Good work FWC!
I went to school with Hunter, he was a grade below me. He was a good ol country boy that held a lot of respect and manners for others. The deer is over populated anyway around these parts and every time you turn around some ones hitting a deer on the roadway! Turn him loose, after all he’s just living off the land like GOD intended for us to do. You got to do what you can to pay the bills now days, after all 10 deer isn’t enough to hurt the population anyway. I know farmers that can’t even grow peanuts and cotton around this area for deer eating it up. Get the drugs off the street then worry about the small stuff.