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    Man reaches plea deal in Oregon bear cub shooting

    Associated Press – Fri, Jan 27, 2012

    FLORENCE, Ore. (AP) — A man has pleaded no contest to animal abuse after being accused of fatally shooting a 90-pound bear cub rummaging in his neighbor's garbage. But the case could be dismissed if he doesn't break the law for six months.

    Blake Christensen of Florence said he reached the plea deal with prosecutors to avoid the costs and risk of a trial, The Eugene Register-Guard (http://bit.ly/xvth4E ) reported Friday.

    The bear, its mother and two other cubs were in a neighborhood west of U.S. 101 in November when Christensen hit it with a pellet gun from 15 feet.

    Christensen, 29, initially said he would fight the charge. He argued he was doing what coastal Oregonians do for protection when bears invade their property.

    "He should have let the professionals do their job," countered city prosecutor Floyd Prozanski.

    Prozanski, also a state senator, said shooting the cub put the neighborhood at risk from the enraged mother bear, which broke a fence running from the area.

    Police likely would have tried to use an air horn to get the bears to leave, he said.

    Police said a state police trooper initially investigated and decided against recommending charges against Christensen. State law allows a person to kill a wild animal that is causing damage or is a public nuisance.

    City police asked Prozanski to review the case. He charged Christensen with first-degree animal abuse — a misdemeanor typically used to prosecute people who injure, neglect or kill pets and livestock.

    A charge of violating an ordinance against discharging a weapon in the city limits was dropped as part of the plea agreement.

    ___

    Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com

     

    14 comments

    • colleen
      colleen  •  Cleveland, Ohio  •  3 mths ago
      Kind of reminds me of the Cleveland woman a couple years back beating to death a newborn fawn she found sleeping in her flower bed. This bourgeois-ghetto women was enraged by the tiny fawns disregard for her flowers. As sickening and alarming her actions were, no civilized person was prepared for the slight admonishment she received. Disgusting human behavior at its fullest.
      • Sarah De bruin
        Sarah De bruin 3 mths ago
        OMG this is a tragic story. I can't imagine the cruelty we as humans are capable of.
    • SuperG
      SuperG  •  Portland, Oregon  •  3 mths ago
      This whole case sounds like wrongful prosecution, and should be investigated by the state. I'm think Floyd really doesn't like this guy for some personal reason.
    • Peter
      Peter  •  Oakhurst, California  •  3 mths ago
      Davy Crockett would have spent his life behind bars if he were born 200 later than he was!
    • Peter
      Peter  •  Oakhurst, California  •  3 mths ago
      I used to work for OSP. I am glad to read they had the common sense to recommend no charges.
    • not t
      not t  •  Intercourse, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      The state must have needed the money he will have to pay in fines, court costs, court ordered counseling, drug awareness programs (doesn't matter if drugs had nothing to do with it) and whatever other hoops they can get money for making people jump through. And no, I have never had trouble with the law, but I see this stuff all the time in Oregon.
      • Peter
        Peter 3 mths ago
        So, what does Not T do in Intercourse?
    • Peter
      Peter  •  Oakhurst, California  •  3 mths ago
      Floyd Prozansky needs to be busted down to Dog Doo patrol for the Florence Parks and Rec Department!
    • Bob
      Bob  •  3 mths ago
      More liberal insanity. Florence Oregon, like most of Oregon and Northern California, have an overabundance of bears and mountain lions that parade through towns and rummage in backyards looking for scraps or an unaware pet. And yet animal rights activists and brain damaged liberals think it's cruel to try to protect a HUMAN life.
      • Peter
        Peter 3 mths ago
        Easy there Dude, not all liberals are as you describe. Just as, not all non-liberals are retarded rednecks either!
      • colleen
        colleen 3 mths ago
        Although I agree that having to live with an overabundance problem of bears and mountain lions is not for the faint hearted, couldn't a well aimed missile from "fifteen feet" away been better utilized on a cub?
    • Peter
      Peter  •  Oakhurst, California  •  3 mths ago
      Bears make good rugs!
    • 1Realist
      1Realist  •  Syracuse, New York  •  3 mths ago
      Which is the crime the alleged act of abuse or the endangerment of the community? Hitting even a 90 pound bear cub with a pellet gun is about as abusive as beating a child with a Q-Tip. Thank fully that the bears evacuated fence or no fence. What if a curious child appeared and were viewed as a threat by the mother bear? Senator or city prosecutor Floyd Prozanski, I wish you Luck in November! As a bit of advise, maybe you spend some time on the less than trivial issues
      • Sophia Hanson
        Sophia Hanson 3 mths ago
        Um, it was a FATAL shooting... so, it was a little more violent than hitting someone with a Q-tip.
      • 1Realist
        1Realist 3 mths ago
        You are correct. I was mistaken. It was a FATAL shooting... so, it was a little more violent than hitting someone with a Q-tip.
    • Tyler
      Tyler  •  3 mths ago
      That stupid s o b. no one gives a s about animals anymore.
    • Gee Bee
      Gee Bee  •  3 mths ago
      OMG! a pellet gun? That is just stupid to punish someone for that. Bears will come right into your house if they do not have a little fear of humans. A pellet gun is a gentile reminder they are out of bounds and helps them to stay away from where they do not belong.
      • colleen
        colleen 3 mths ago
        The article states that the cub was killed...by...a...pellet gun from fifteen feet. (?)
    • LtDanhasnolegs
      LtDanhasnolegs  •  3 mths ago
      He dropped a bear with a pellet gun??? Good shooting
    • Alia
      Alia  •  3 mths ago
      Poor thing It was just hungery -
      give it a section 8 coupon and everything would of been OK
    • Alia
      Alia  •  3 mths ago
      Murder er !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      Leave the poor beast alone
     Post a comment
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