April 29, 2010
Hunter who left donuts for bear found guilty
The “pastry poacher,” arrested in November for using donuts and other sweets to illegally bait and kill a trophy-sized black bear, was found guilty today of violating several game laws.
Charles W. Olsen Jr., 39, of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, unintentionally drew the attention of a Game Commission wildlife conservation officer when his truck loaded with pastries was spotted on a highway a week before bear season. The officer noted the truck license number, traced it to Mr. Olsen and alerted bear check stations. Mr. Olsen was arrested when he attempted to register a 707-pound bear that would have been the biggest taken during the state’s three-day bear hunting season had it been killed legally.
Mr. Olsen’s fines and restitution total $6,800 plus court costs, and he stands to lose his hunting and trapping privileges for at least three years.