A Colorado man admitted to taking “extreme” actions in response to a legal bear hunt on his neighbor’s ranch. Thomas Anderson (69), plead guilty to felony attempted arson and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. It was part of a plea deal which dropped the charges of interference with a hunter and telephone harassment. The felony will also be expunged from his record in two years. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June, where he could face jail time but likely will only receive probation.
The incident occurred Sept. 7 at Brush Creek Ranch. Dispatchers received a call around 7:50 PM from Anderson claiming more than one bear, including cubs, were being illegally hunted and killed. Upon arrival, officers found a legal hunt had taken place. The ranch caretaker had given the hunter permission to legally hunt on the property and just one bear had been taken. CPW also confirmed that the hunter had the correct permits to hunt there. In addition, Anderson had approached the hunter and his 5 and 7-year old sons in a fit of rage. According to the report, Andersen told the boys their father “is a murderer” and a “dumb f—,” and called the boys “sons of bitches” and “little bastards”.
When the deputies approached Anderson to tell him that nothing illegal had taken place. The man flew off in another rage that deputies said lasted over two minutes. “He was screaming loud, his face was red and at times spit was coming out of his mouth. Andersen would not let me get a word in,” Deputy Michael Buglione said.
Later that night, the hunter discovered gasoline poured across the driveway of the ranch. As well as the gasoline nozzle and a paper bag. Deputy Buglione went to investigate and questioned Anderson. “I asked Andersen about the gas, nozzle, and paper and he said, ‘At least I didn’t start the fire,’” Buglione wrote in his report. “I asked Andersen if he poured gas on the driveway and left the nozzle and paper there in retaliation to (the hunter) legally shooting a bear and Andersen’s reply was, ‘Yeah, but I didn’t light the fire.’”
The hunter said, “I honestly believe that when we pulled up to the driveway he ran away and that he was in the act or process of lighting the fire.”
What do you think of the plea deal? Should Thomas Anderson do jail time for taking such extreme action against a hunter?
