Men Involved in Cougar Slaying Charged

Three men from Bay and Saginaw counties have been charged in the slaying of a cougar. 42-year-old Troy Richard of Bay City, 68-year-old Theodore Richard of Munger and 43-year-old Todd Richard of Burt were arraigned yesterday in Schoolcraft County District Court. Richard pleaded guilty to the two misdemeanors in exchange for the dismissal of felony charges. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay fines and restitution and also to complete community service. Theodore Richard, pleaded guilty to on one count of taking or possessing an endangered species and he is paying fines and must perform community service as well. Todd Richard pleaded not guilty to a count of conspiracy to commit that crime. A pretrial hearing has yet to be set. The charges stem from the killing of a cougar in mid-December on a hunting property in northeast Schoolcraft County. It was the first slaying of a cougar in Michigan in more than a century.