Man accused of deliberately running over turkey while on way to anger management class

[matcom]

<snip>

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A Springfield man pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges that he deliberately ran over a wild turkey in September on his way to anger management class.

Steven J. Lapre, 27, said he's being unfairly singled out for prosecution, noting that hundreds of deer and other wild animals are killed each year on Vermont highways. "How many citations do they hand out for all the dead deer by the side of the road?" Lapre said after his brief arraignment before Judge Robert Bent.

If convicted, Lapre could be fined up to $500 for the violation.

Lapre strongly rejected the charge that he deliberately killed the young turkey hen. Lapre said he actually tried to avoid hitting the flock of turkeys crossing Route 5 and ended up hitting one small hen turkey.

Lapre, who said he wasn't a turkey hunter, said he backed up and got out of his car and picked up the turkey when a man started yelling at him to drop the turkey.

"I guess my mistake was picking it up," Lapre said Tuesday afternoon at White River Junction District Court after his arraignment. He said he immediately dropped the turkey and left.

Lapre said he was on his way to a class in Windsor when he came upon the flock in the road. Lapre wouldn't say what the class was, but according to court records, Lapre was on his way to a class for prevention of domestic abuse. Lapre is on probation for violating an abuse prevention order and disorderly conduct and simple assault.

He said his teacher had urged him to report the turkey killing to the Windsor Police Department, which he did.

Court records stated that two witnesses told Game Warden Steve Majeski that he was driving at a normal rate of speed and then "sped up" to hit the turkey.

Lapre said that he was having trouble with his muffler and that it was especially loud and that's why the people thought he sped up.

Lapre talked to reporters about the case until his public defender, Elizabeth Kruska, ordered him to stop talking.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061115/NEWS/611150348/1003/NEWS02

[pitohui]

1. hmm

sounds like to me that the dude thought he would catch himself a free turkey for thanksgiving, then dropped the idea when he realized he'd been observed

[jilln]

2. Do you subscribe to a list

that sends articles about animals' violent ends? Just sayin'... this and the lobster article today ;-)

[billyskank]

3. Okay matcom, even for you that is a fucking wierd headline