Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse

[GutshotApe]

Bandon Chief of Police Bob McBride was found guilty by a 6-member jury on thursday of five misdemeanor wildlife violations, according to an AP story in the Eugene R-G today.

Originally charged with 10 violations, the jury found him guillty of:
1) Unlawfully hunting & pursuing cougars using dogs
2) Aiding in a game law violation (assisted another person in hunting ruffed grouse out of season)
3) Aiding in a game law violation (assisted another person hunting ruffed grouse using a prohibited method - with a rifle)
4) Same as #3 but on a separate occasion
5) Failure to validate a bobcat record card after taking a bobcat

Coos County judge Martin Stone sentenced McBride to 3 years bench probation and ordered him to pay fines totaling $3,145, serve 400 hours of community service, pay $10 restitution for a ruffed grouse illegally killed by a hunting companion, and banned him from hunting for 5 years.

"If I knew that what I was doing was illegal there's no way in hell I would have done it," McBride said.

[2LEYS]

Bench probation??? Does that mean he is still an officer?

[GutshotApe]

Yeah...he's still Chief of Police. Apparently he is quite popular in Bandon and still has the support of many of the native Bandonese people.

[Straydog]

Pretty sorry outcome, in my mind.

"Andy of Mayberry" plays dumb, gets a very light sentence and keeps his job. We (society) gets all wound up when a basketball player gets caught with pot becuase he is considered a role model for our youth. A police officer breaks several laws, plays dumb and keeps his job, part of which consists of being a role model for youth. Sends a real positive message to our youth, dosen't it?

Heck, why would we expect a police officer to know and understand the law of the land? Why would we not expect his alleged ignorance of the law to get him off easy?

"It's big old goofy world................"

[ 09-20-2003, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

[2LEYS]

He knew exactly what he was doing.

[C-lice]

I'm not sure which scenario is worse--that he knowingly and willingly broke the law, or that he is truly as ignorant as he claims. He is either a poacher or a nincompoop--neither should be a police chief. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

[maggot]

sounds like he is also too ignorant to carry a weapon