South Tahoe man admits to shooting bear
This bear was killed last summer.. Photo/Toogee Sielsch
A South Lake Tahoe man today admitted to illegally killing a bear near his home in July 2015.
Gilbert Wetenkamp pleaded no contest March 11 to unlawfully taking an animal.
El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Suzanne Kingsbury is scheduled to sentence him on March 18. The maximum penalty is one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The 2½-year-old bear was shot in the backside with buckshot from a shotgun.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Such an ugly act by this Wetenkamp person.
Homo sapiens can be such a disappointment.
Spouse – 4-mer-usmc
I speak for the entire BEAR League when I say that we would like to thank the El Dorado County District Attorney’s office for vigorously pursuing this case to a point that precipitated a plea by Mr Wetenkamp. It’s good to know that the County of El Dorado will not allow the unjustified and senseless killing of an innocent wild animal within our county lines. We hope this sets a precedent and sends a message to other counties in the State of California.
Toogee Sielsch
Board Member of The BEAR League
My comment saved for when we find out the penalty
The maximum penalty stated in this article is way too lenient.
How about 5 years in jail and $10,000 fine, and all court and investigative costs. And then shoot him in the butt as he did the bear.