Former Major League Baseball player Danny Cox and three other men have entered plea agreements on hunting citations issued three years ago on his property in rural Freeburg.

This brings an end to cases against eight men, including Freeburg Mayor Seth Speiser, in St. Clair County Circuit Court. Illinois Conservation Police had issued them a total of 29 citations and 22 written warnings after a monthlong investigation.

This week, Cox pleaded guilty to two of six alleged violations, according to court records. They include falsifying harvest records by using an archery permit issued to someone else, a Class A misdemeanor; and taking a 10-point buck with aid of bait, a Class B misdemeanor.

Associate Judge Maurche’ Belk fined Cox $700. She dismissed cases related to four other citations for allegedly placing bait for deer, firearm deer hunting with aid of bait, taking an 8-point buck with aid of bait and failing to wear blaze orange while hunting.

“It was a prosecution that led to an outcome of guilt on the charges,” said Chris Allen, spokesman for State’s Attorney James Gomric’s office, which negotiated the plea agreements.

Conservation police, formerly known as game wardens, are part of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. IDNR representatives declined to comment for this story.

Under an agency point system, Cox’s convictions on the two violations would result in 22 points against his hunting license and lead to a 22-month suspension of privileges.

Cox, 66, formerly pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays, and managed the Gateway Grizzlies. He didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Cox’s two sons, Kamdan and Kyle, and a fourth hunter, Steve Pate, entered similar plea agreements this week. All were represented by former State’s Attorney John Baricevic.

Speiser, 61, owns property next to 300 mostly wooded acres owned by the Cox family. The mayor, his son and another man entered plea agreements last month in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Speiser pleaded guilty to placing bait for deer. Associate Judge L. Dominic Kujawa fined him $400, placed him on 12-month court supervision and dismissed cases related to three other citations for alleged taking of a white-tailed deer with aid of bait and firearm deer hunting with aid of bait.

All four charges against Speiser were Class B misdemeanors. Under Illinois law, each carried a maximum penalty of up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,500.

If Speiser completes supervision and isn’t cited for additional hunting violations in the next year, the first charge also will be dismissed, according to Allen. However, that won’t eliminate his penalties. The nine points against his hunting license don’t reach the 13-point threshold for suspension.

Here are the results of the other plea agreements:

Kamdan Cox, 30, of Clarksville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one violation involving turkey hunting. He was fined $800. Belk dismissed cases related to six other citations.

Kyle Cox, 35, of Belleville, pleaded guilty to using a hunting license issued to someone else. He was fined $500. Belk dismissed cases related to two other citations.

Steve Pate, 65, of Marietta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to archery deer hunting without a valid permit and unlawful taking of a 7-point buck. He was fined $600. Belk dismissed cases related to two other citations.

Mitchell Speiser, 28, of Freeburg, pleaded guilty to taking a protected species (white-tailed deer). He was fined $400 and placed on 12-month supervision. Kujawa dismissed a case related to one other citation.

Brian Forrester, 38, of New Athens, pleaded guilty to firearm deer-hunting with aid of bait. He was fined $300 and placed on 12-month supervision. Kujawa dismissed a case related to one other citation.

An eighth hunter, Barry Northerner, 66, of Roswell, Georgia, pleaded guilty early on and paid a fine for failing to wear blaze orange instead of negotiating for a plea agreement.

Illinois Conservation Police conducted the investigation in the fall of 2022. Incident reports show that officers did site reconnaissance by day and night and used an Illinois State Police plane for aerial surveillance.

Officers issued 21 citations and 12 written warnings to the Cox hunting party. They alleged in reports that:

Danny Cox used a firearm permit issued to his wife, Nancy, who doesn’t hunt, to harvest a doe.

Kamdan Cox used Nancy’s archery permit to harvest a 5-point buck.

Kyle Cox harvested deer using free landowner permits, despite not living on the property.

Others in the party used permits obtained in the name of Danny and Nancy Cox’s daughter, Kayleigh, who doesn’t hunt.

Officers observed trail cameras on nine deer stands or blinds baited with corn, molasses and mineral salt.

Danny Cox told them that he’s a “conservationist” who feeds deer year-round to ensure they have enough to eat.

Deer baiting is illegal in Illinois due to ethical or “fair-chase” standards and the risk of disease spread from congregated feeding, according to IDNR, although more than 20 states allow it.