Mom, daughter lose appeal in bear trap tampering case

By Associated Press

A Reno woman and her mother have lost an appeal after becoming the first people prosecuted in Nevada for interfering with the capture of troublesome bears at Lake Tahoe.

Season Morrison and her mother, Cheryl Morrison, of Truckee, admitted they deliberately tripped a culvert bear trap state wildlife officials set in October 2013 in Incline Village but maintained the trap had been set illegally.

They were convicted last May of interfering with a wildlife officer and tampering with a motor vehicle.

Justice of the Peace E. Alan Tiras later ordered both to complete community service and pay $1,000 fines, and sentenced Season Morrison to 30 days in jail.

Washoe County District Judge Janet Berry on March 26 denied their appeals, saying Tiras’ decision was supported by evidence and free of error.

Their lawyer says it’s unlikely Berry’s ruling will be appealed.