Florida couple plead guilty to attacking bears with dogs
OCALA, Fla. (AP) – A married couple have pleaded guilty to using donuts and pastries to lure black bears to rural Florida, allowing packs of dogs to attack them and then release the gruesome videos on social networks.
Charles Scarbrough has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering, baiting and animal fighting, illegal use of a two-way communication device and illegal taking of a black bear, reports Ocala Star Banner . He agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. For this reason, sentencing has been postponed, even though he faces five years probation to more than two years in prison.
His wife, Hannah Scarbrough, was sentenced to more than five years of probation for illegally taking a black bear and using a communication device.
Under the terms of the agreement, she must pay the state $ 3,850.23 for prosecution costs. She also has to pay $ 22,847 to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for her investigation.
State prosecutors said the Scarbroughs were among a group of people who would use trained dogs to attack black bears in several areas of central Florida, including the Ocala National Forest.
Prosecutors said at least one bear was shot and then skinned.