Two Poplarville men have been ordered to pay more than $15,000 in restitution and fines after pleading guilty to a series of wildlife violations tied to the illegal poaching of white-tailed deer in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Dawson Brown, 25, and Jase D. Smith, 24, admitted to multiple offenses across Belmont and Muskingum counties, including hunting without proper permits, using illegal methods, and failing to tag and report harvested deer properly.

Brown pleaded guilty in Belmont County Court to seven violations, including hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, using a firearm during archery season, spotlighting, and possessing untagged deer parts. He was ordered to pay $13,169.37 in restitution and $865 in fines and court costs. Brown also received a 390-day jail sentence, with all but 30 days suspended, and must serve three years of probation. His hunting privileges in Ohio have been revoked for three years.

Smith was convicted in both Muskingum and Belmont counties. In Muskingum County Court, he was found guilty of hunting without permission, lacking the required nonresident licenses, and failing to report a deer harvest. He was ordered to pay $1,885 in restitution and $249.25 in fines and court costs, serve 30 days in jail, and forfeit his hunting privileges in the state for three years. In Belmont County, Smith was ordered to pay an additional $605 in fines and court costs and was sentenced to three years of probation.

As part of the investigation, the Ohio Division of Wildlife confiscated six antlered deer skulls, five firearms, a crossbow, a spotlight, a deer mount, and processed venison.