Guilty Plea To Cruelty, Mischief In Bison Deaths

FAIRPLAY – A Texas businessman who owns a ranch in central Colorado has pleaded guilty to one count each of criminal mischief and animal cruelty in the slaughter of 32 bison that belonged to a neighbor.

Jeff Hawn also agreed to pay $83,000 to the bison’s owner, $70,000 to charities and $4,000 to the Park County Sheriff’s Department.

He could also face up to 10 days in jail when he’s sentenced in January.

Hawn, CEO of the Seattle-based software company Attachmate, entered his plea on Monday.

He had been charged with 32 counts of aggravated animal cruelty but pleaded guilty to the lesser charges in a deal with prosecutors.

Prosecutors say Hawn let 14 hunters to kill the bison because the animals had wandered on to his land and caused damage.