The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana, issued the following press release:
In Troy, Montana, a man admitted to unlawfully killing a grizzly bear on his property in 2020, failing to report the shooting as required, and disposing of the bear’s GPS collar in the Yaak River. This individual, identifies as Othel Lee Pearson, 80, has been sentenced to two months in prison and fined $10,000, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.
Pearson pleaded guilty in February to tampering with evidence, a felony, and to not reporting the taking of a grizzly bear, a misdemeanor.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided over the case. Pearson will also serve four months of home confinement following his prison term, and then face three years of supervised release. Additionally, he has been ordered to forfeit a .270 Winchester bolt-action rifle with a scope used in the incident. Pearson is required to self-report to prison.
U.S. Attorney Laslovich praised the efforts of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents and federal prosecutors in apprehending Pearson, emphasizing the protected status of grizzly bears in Montana.
Assistant Director for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Edward Grace, highlighted the agency’s commitment to protecting natural resources and investigating illegal activities threatening endangered species like grizzly bears.
Court documents revealed that Pearson shot and killed a sow grizzly bear on his property in November 2020, tampering with evidence to obstruct the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leading the investigation.
