The Colorado man who killed and discarded a sow bear and two cubs received a sentence of two years of probation and more than $19,000 in fines Monday in Fremont County District Court, according to court records.
In January, Paul Stromberg, 53, of Howard, pleaded guilty to one felony count of big game wildlife destruction and one misdemeanor count of failure to properly dress wildlife.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers arrested Stromberg on Sept. 30 on suspicion of killing the animals and he was later released on a $10,000 bond.
The officers found the bodies of the three bears on state trust land southeast of Salida on Sept. 29 after receiving anonymous tips about a poaching incident and reviewing social media posts. Officials found evidence that the bears were shot on Sept. 25 at the Howard property, according to the Oct. 2 news release.
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During his sentencing hearing, Stromberg stated he had seen evidence of a bear that had killed 19 of his family’s chickens, according to the Cañon City Daily Record. Stromberg said he shot the bear to protect his wife, who ran outside after hearing a noise at night and came face to face with the bear.
Conditions of Stromberg’s probation include 150 hours of community service, a $7,030 payment to the Victims Assistance Fund, $750 in restitution and a $19,000 felony fine.
If Stromberg’s probation is not successful, he faces a felony conviction and a prison sentence of up to three years, according to the Daily Record.
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