Man who killed Hollywood Buck sentenced to prison and loses hunting license

RICHMOND, Virginia – The man who killed the rare Hollywood buck native to Richmond has been sentenced to six months in prison (three months suspended), fined more than $13,000, and had his hunting license revoked for 100 years (76 years suspended).

According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), 36-year-old Jason Walters pleaded guilty to all 20 counts related to the deaths of three deer in Virginia.

An affidavit shows that a conservation officer interviewed Walters on December 15, 2023, a day after Walters killed the Hollywood Buck and his pictures were posted on a Facebook page popular among hunters.

Jeff Phillips hosts the public Facebook group Star City Whitetail. He said people from all over Virginia send him snapshots of their hunting exploits – and he posts them online. Phillips said he posted pictures that a man sent him. He said the man claimed the kill was taken at the Prince Edward County hunting club. Phillips said he made the post and within minutes his phone rang.

“This is pretty crazy, to say the least. In all the time I've been doing this, nothing has gotten this much attention,” he said.

People told him that they believed the buck in the photo was a popular deer that had roamed the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond for many years.

It was known for its large, unusual antlers. Phillips, who is from Roanoke, said he initially thought it was just a large buck but didn't immediately recognize it. The post was shared and commented on thousands of times.

“The site is a big deal. This particular guy knew that and wanted to get it out there, and he did,” Phillips said.

When the conservation officer questioned Walter, he told the officer that the deer head and antlers were located somewhere other than his house, court documents state.

Walters returned from a dead end street on Alcott Road with the head of the deer in question and “the deer head was produced in a large silver plastic flower pot and placed in a yellow garbage bag.”

Richmond man charged in shooting of Hollywood Buck

The affidavit states that investigators returned to Walters' property on December 16, 2023, and found a black Chevrolet Suburban with an archery target in the bed of the vehicle.

The officer wrote that it was the same black SUV that witnesses said picked up Walters from his home on December 14, the day of the murder.

Alan Proffitt confirmed that the SUV belonged to him and admitted to picking up Walters on December 14.

Profitt was later found guilty of the charges he was accused of in the case, as police believed him to be an accomplice in the killing of the deer. He was fined $1,250 and sentenced to 30 days of house arrest. Profitt's hunting privileges were revoked for 30 years (24 of which were suspended).

“The significant penalties will certainly be a deterrent to future wildlife crime and will reassure the public that this type of crime is taken very seriously in the state,” a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources said in announcing the verdict. “Hunting is a cherished tradition in Virginia. Unethical and criminal conduct damages the reputation of the sport and brings disrepute to those who practice it legally. The agency will always put the safety of the public and the preservation of the state's natural resources first and will prosecute anyone who violates the law. In addition, the DWR will work with the outdoor community and our partners to find the best way to honor this incredible animal.”

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