Missing in the push of current environment activities was information from Washington state about a spectacular jury trial ensuing in the conviction of a 77-yr-previous Ilwaco female, who now faces a most penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Doris Parks pleaded not guilty, just as she did back in 2014 when tried using on related expenses. That trial was interrupted when prosecutors available a offer, ensuing in a $500 fine but no jail time.
The most recent circumstance hinged on gripping testimony from officer Paul Jacobson. Acting on a suggestion from a neighbor, Jacobson done comprehensive video surveillance. Despite objections from defense legal professional Killian Dunkeson, the footage was performed for the 6-member jury, accompanied by testimony by an expert witness, Scott Harris, a wildlife biologist.
A turning level came for the duration of officer Jacobson’s testimony about surveilling the Parks’ property. He instructed Decide Nancy McAllister that he noticed a bear walk up Parks’ driveway and onto her deck.
Whilst Jacobson conceded under cross-evaluation that he hardly ever noticed Parks feeding bears, he mentioned the animals he noticed had been overweight.
Officers experienced been alerted by a neighbor, Gerry Douglas, who testified that he compiled far more than 60 online video clips of bears on Parks’ property. Asked by protection lawyer Dunkeson if he had at any time individually witnessed Parks feeding a bear, Douglas conceded he had not. Even so, he advised the court docket, “I have found the doorway open up there, on the patio, and I have seen a hand with food stuff slide out.”
Biologist Harris told the court docket that he examined the movie evidence and concluded that some bears in the footage appeared “huge” considering that it was spring and the bears had only recently emerged from hibernation. He mentioned he was “kind of amazed” that the bears returned to the exact same area so often.
Testifying in her possess protection, Parks mentioned she only feeds raccoons and birds, noting that raccoons “have pretty good manners.” She included that she is cautious around bears, but “I have in no way noticed a bear damage any one.”
The jury took only 30 minutes to provide its verdict, discovering Doris Parks responsible of “intentionally feeding, or making an attempt to feed, substantial wild carnivores or intentionally attracting massive wild carnivores to land or a constructing.” Sentencing is owing later this thirty day period.
I’d like to thank reporter Brandon Cline of the Chinook Observer for his near-up coverage of the demo. It is a disgrace that in these tense and troubled periods, so substantially breaking information is conveniently forgotten.
Peter Funt is a author and speaker
