The man, who admits he is primarily a vegetarian, says he would usually drive around in the darkness and shoot at deer when their eyes were reflected by his spotlight.
(PRINEVILLE, Ore.) - A Prineville man arrested Friday for numerous wildlife-related crimes in what one trooper described as a "serial-type killing of wildlife."
Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division investigators say that during the past several years north of Prineville, over a dozen deer have been found dead after they were shot and left to waste beside Forest Service Roads.
In August 2007, the OSP department aircraft helped locate a suspect spotlighting in the general area where these deer were found.
OSP Fish & Wildlife troopers contacted the suspect identified as 60-year old Ronald A. Livermore of Prineville.
During the contact, troopers say they discovered that Livermore was in possession of a sawed off .22 rifle with a home built silencer and that he had a special compartment in the trunk used to conceal the weapon.
A subsequent forensic examination by the OSP Forensic Laboratory confirmed the weapon was used during the killing of some of the deer.
On April 18th, OSP Senior Trooper Amos Madison arrested Livermore and lodged him in the Crook County Jail on numerous violations.
Ronald A. LivermoreLivermore was charged with Possession of a Short Barreled Rifle with a Silencer, 2 counts of Tampering with Evidence, 8 counts of Illegal Taking of Deer Closed Season, 8 counts of Waste of Deer, 4 counts of Hunting while Suspended, Attempted Taking of Wildlife During Closed Season, 8 counts of Hunting with the Aid of a Light and 8 counts of Aggravated Animal Abuse.
Investigators believe Livermore, who admits he is primarily a vegetarian, would usually drive around in the darkness shining his spotlight, and when he saw eyes he would just shoot at them and then drive on looking for more.
They say many of the dead deer were either pregnant or had recently given birth.
As of Monday, April 21st, Livermore was still in custody at Crook County Jail.
Police in Oregon Say Man was a 'Serial-Type' Killer of Wildlife
Salem-News.com