Jury trial set in
grizzly killing
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August 23, 2011 |
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| Rachel Hill
and she and Jeremy's six children,
including Jasmine, holding the baby at
left, who celebrated her 14th birthday
by attending her dad's arraignment on a
federal felony charge for killing a
grizzly bear. |
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by Mike Weland
newsbf.com
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Idaho Senator
Shawn Keough (right), talks with Rachel
Hill after her husband Jeremy Hill's
arraignment Tuesday in Coeur d'Alene. |
Jeremy and Rachel Hill and their children would
much rather have spent the day at home today
celebrating the 14th birthday of their eldest
daughter, Jasmine. Instead, they faced an overly
intimidating morning in federal court more than
100 miles away in Coeur d'Alene, where Jeremy
heard the charges and potential penalties he
faces, entered a not guilty plea, and had a jury
trial date set for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 4,
before Judge Edward Lodge.
Judge Candy Dale conducted today's hearing,
officially informing Hill, 33, that he was
innocent until proven guilty of a single charge
of killing an endangered or threatened species,
in this case a two-year-old male grizzly bear
cub that was on his
property about 150 feet from his Highway 1 home
on Mother's Day May 8.
If convicted, he faces up to one year in prison,
up to a $50,000 fine, or both, up to one year
probation and forfeiture of the bolt-action
rifle he used to shoot the bear.
Hill, solemn on the stand, answered each
question simply, "yes, your honor," "no, your
honor."
On the matter of his release pending trial, the
prosecution requested that he forfeit his
passport and be required to report to a
probation officer each time he goes into Canada,
a common occurrence as the family often visits
Creston. His defense attorney noted that Hill
was not a flight risk and objected, and Judge
Dale met him half way, not requiring forfeiture
of his passport but requiring that the court be
notified each time he planned to enter Canada.
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Jeremy's
father Mike Hill (left), and Commission
Chair Ron Smith meet with Spokane
television reporters after Jeremy Hill's
arraignment hearing. |
About 70 people attended Hill's first appearance
since the charge was filed August 7, forcing the
hearing to be moved to a larger courtroom, which
still proved too small for everyone. Prior to
entering the building, everyone had to go
through a security check to rival any at the
airport, removing belts, shoes, having U.S.
Marshals go through purses.
Evelyn Smith had to hand over her two-inch metal
nail file, I had to take my camera back to my
car and remove my P-38, a can opener used by old
GIs to open cans of C-rations. Once inside the
large courtroom, I was ordered to find a seat in
the packed gallery or leave; fortunately, people
in the front row were able to squeeze just
enough to give me space.
Teacher Linda Endow Hall, who taught the two
elder Hill children, snapped a few pictures
inside the courtroom with her cell phone before
everyone was ordered to turn all electronic
devices off, not having seen the signs barring
photography; she was hustled out not once, but
twice, where she said she was subjected to
questioning, forced to erase all the pictures,
and forced to give her identification,
presumably, she said, to add her information to
federal watch lists. She was warned that if any
photos of the proceedings turned up in the
media, she could face prosecution.
Among those in attendance were Jeremy's father,
Mike Hill, his uncle, Steve Hill, Idaho Senator
Shawn Keough, who gave Rachel a big hug after
the hearing and promised her staunch support,
and county commission chair Ron Smith, who met
outside, along side Mike and with Rachel and the
children in the background, with reporters from
Spokane television stations KREM and KHQ. Donna
Capurso, chairman of the Boundary County
Republican Central Committee, was there as well.
Saying that he and his fellow county
commissioners strongly felt it their duty to
protect the rights of citizens to protect
themselves, Smith told KHQ's Anthony Gomes, "My
hope as that before then (the trial), they come
to their senses and drop the charges."
Mike Hill told the reporters that there wasn't
much to say. He described what he knew of what
transpired May 8, saying that the bears, which
he said had been spotted a week earlier more
than five miles away in a grizzly recovery area,
were within 150 feet of the house and in an area
where the six Hill children, ranging in age from
14 to 10 months, normally played. The sow and
one cub
ran, but the male cub didn't, leading Jeremy, who had
just stepped out of the shower when he saw the
grizzlies, to grab his rifle. Not knowing where
the kids were, called for them and got no
answer.
When the grizzly cub refused to run, he shot him
three times, and he died just a few feet from
the swingset the kids often play on. Jeremy then
called Idaho Fish and Game to report the
encounter.
"If your kids are threatened, you're going to do
everything to protect them," Mike told
KHQ reporter Anthony Gomes. "Their lives revolve around their
kids, and he did everything right." |
Reader's Comments
I guess bears are more important than human
lives, one more instance of the 'Federal
Government' gone amok ... Will it never end?
Bears, wolves, lions ... as long as they
stay out of the belt line we will have to
endure the idiots that reside there, forcing
them on the rest of us.
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Jim Murrray
Lakeview, North Carolina
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Thanks, Mike, for this story. Thanks, Boundary
County, for taking care of our own even in these
tough times. Thanks, Idaho Fish and Game, for
your common sense. Thanks US Fish and Wildlife
... for nothing, you worthless, mindless
morons..
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Mike Boatman
Las Vegas, Nevada
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We had a 'trouble garbage bear' some years back
... tore off screens, chewed up the garage
doors, tore down bird feeders, rubbed muddy paws
on the front window of the house ... and nothing
done! Just a bear, says Idaho Fish and Game
Maybe grizzlies should be relocated to Washington, D.C.? Just thinking ... |
Sharon Smith
Bonners Ferry
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Griz are originally from California. We could
give them back to the idiots who love them so
much ... just sayin'. |
Heather Gemmrig
Bonners Ferry
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This is outrageous ... charges from the USFWS!
Is Idaho Fish and Game involved in this? The
grizzly are a recovered species that should be
no longer listed as endangered or threaten
species. But the heavy-handed over zealous USFWS
just love to crush small families instead of
protecting them.
There are more grizzly per square mile in the
Northern Rockies than in Alaska. The USFWS, the
corrupt court and the Federal DA are disgrace to
be called Americans. Who where they trained by,
the Nazis?
Nowhere in the US Constitution does it say give
grizzly bear more rights than a father
protecting his children. Every single Federal
personnel involved in this case should be fired
on the spot then charged in Idaho State court
with family abuses, given a fair trial, and sent
to prison. |
Bruce Hemming
North Dakota
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The judge should throw the case out after ruling
prosecution responsible for defendant legal
fees. |
Rotchy Barker
Cody, Wyoming
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The decision of the US Attorney's Office to
bring criminal charges against Jeremy Hill
for protecting his beautiful family on
mothers day from one of nature's most
vicious killers is simply beyond
understanding. I hope and pray wisdom will
prevail and charges will be dropped before
this wonderful hard working American family
is put through the gruel of a Federal trial. |
Darrell Kerby
Bonners Ferry |
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