Bear feeding Christina Lake man to be sentenced at end of year
By Michael Wirischagin
Self-proclaimed “bear dude” Allen Piche plead guilty to charges of feeding dangerous wildlife under the Wildlife Act. The case, heard Tuesday in Grand Forks Provincial Court, stemmed from a raid on his property at Christina Lake that uncovered a grow-op along with up to two dozen black bears. Last month Piche plead not guilty to federal drug charges for the production of and possession of, for the purpose of trafficking in, marijuana. Piche has never denied feeding the bears, however has denied any connection between the bears and the grow-op. A police investigation of an alleged marijuana grow operation in mid-August 2010 uncovered a number of severely habituated and food-conditioned black bears on a rural property near Christina Lake. The property owner, Piche, had allegedly been feeding the bears large amounts of dog food, in quantities that were enough to sustain them. As a result, the bears had become dependent upon humans for food and were docile in response to humans as food providers. It is believed as many as 26 bears were frequenting the property in search of food. Under the Province’s Wildlife Act, penalties for feeding dangerous wildlife can be as high as $100,000 for a first offence, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. Subsequent convictions for the same offence can result in a fine of not more than $200,000 and not less than $2,000, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both. Piche will return to court between Nov. 21 and no later than Dec. 14 for sentencing on the provincial wildlife charges.
Piche will also be appearing in court on Dec. 13 for trial confirmation in relation to the Federal drug charges with a two-day trail date set for Feb. 13 and 14, 2012.
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