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Accused bear killer’s court date pushed back


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Gilbert Wetenkamp, the South Lake Tahoe man accused of killing a bear in July, was granted more time to present his case.

Wetenkamp’s public defender on Oct. 23 requested the delay for further discovery. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4 in El Dorado County Superior Court in South Lake Tahoe.

In September Wetenkamp pleaded not guilty one misdemeanor count of unlawful taking of an animal. He is accused of shooting a black bear to death on July 9.

The 2½-year-old bear was shot in the backside with buckshot from a shotgun.

The maximum penalty if convicted is one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

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Comments (15)
  1. Robin Smith says - Posted: October 23, 2015

    If Gilbert was not starving to death with intention to feed and cloth himself and family, and he was not in imminent danger….

    I hope the judge does the right thing…put him in JAIL.

  2. Old Long Skiis says - Posted: October 23, 2015

    Shooting a bear, unless it breaks into your house or car an you can,t scare, it off in search of food, is wrong!!!
    Shooting the bear is never the right answer.
    Take care and be bear aware, Old Long Skiis

  3. Moral Hazard says - Posted: October 23, 2015

    Why is killing a bear different from killing a cow? I am going bear hunting this week and hope to fill my freezer.

  4. Toogee says - Posted: October 23, 2015

    We at the Bear League were in attendance today, and plan to see this case through to the end. Blatant disrespect for wildlife should not go unpunished!

    Meanwhile in Skyland the other infamous bear killers in the Basin, Carl Lackey and NDOW, have had a bear trap in place for going on three weeks now with no results. Someone should ask John Singlaub about his involvement with the placement of that trap.

  5. Chief Slowroller says - Posted: October 23, 2015

    12 gauge to the rump how does that kill a Bear?

    30-40 kraig thru the shoulder then the hart that will kill a Bear.

    Danny Lukins shot that Bear in the rump with a 44 mag.
    it did not kill the Bear.

  6. Atomic says - Posted: October 24, 2015

    12 gauge to the rump when the bear is twenty feet up in the tree with subsequent free fall is what killed the bear.

    And Derrrrr, uh duhhhhh, what’s the difference between shooting a bear and shooting a cow……….? answer: the cow is smarter than you if you are asking the question.

  7. Lisa says - Posted: October 24, 2015

    Toogie , You are 100 percent correct, Jail time is needed.

  8. Hmmm... says - Posted: October 24, 2015

    Here we go…Jesus freaks with weapons…what could possibly go wrong? Guess they’re gearing up for Christianity’s ‘War on Everything That Doesn’t Scream JE$U$’.

    Happy Holy Days.

    Blessed Be.

  9. fromform says - Posted: October 24, 2015

    scared sacred crew gearing up for takeover

  10. Dogula says - Posted: October 24, 2015

    Hmmmm, what on earth does ANY of this have to do with Christianity???
    That was completely off topic and uncalled for. Talk about a bully problem here. . .

  11. Hmmm... says - Posted: October 24, 2015

    Dogula, Some of those posting regarding this situation are ‘extremely bible oriented’. Christianity’s hypersensitivity regarding ‘Christmas’ and just about everything else, and their love of and aggressive use of weaponry is well documented. Hell, they even have a sword as their symbol.

    I did not name any names. Your comment on bullying is inaccurate and a prime example of the hypersensitivity I just mentioned.

  12. Dogula says - Posted: October 24, 2015

    There is NOTHING in this article about Christianity. And there were no comments about it till YOU put it there.
    As for hypersensitivity, as you put it, “Jesus freaks with weapons…what could possibly go wrong? Guess they’re gearing up for Christianity’s ‘War on Everything That Doesn’t Scream JE$U$’.” isn’t exactly what I’d call SENSITIVE.

  13. Hmmm... says - Posted: October 24, 2015

    yawn

  14. Hmmm... says - Posted: October 24, 2015

    Keep posting, keep proving my point. So predictable.

  15. nature bats last says - Posted: October 25, 2015

    Hmmm, its the end of the month for some of the blog trolls, no meds or money makes them cranky.i personally thought your comment was full of good ol humor. Considering this whole bear killing stuff that some consider their god given right to have guns to fondle as a replacement for true emotions, well, you know how I feel about all that, but I chuckled at your comment. Humor, good for the soul…