LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. — Three people from Lauderdale County were arraigned in court this week on charges of killing an endangered Louisiana black bear and trying to hide the evidence.
According to their indictment, the bear was killed in January when Travis Butler caused another person to kill the bear. Later, Butler and Chester Williams took the bear to David Wimberley’s to taxidermy.
The three men are accused of destroying evidence of the killing when federal and state agencies began to investigate.
Each of the men could face up to 1 year in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted for killing the bear and up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if they are found guilty of obstruction of justice.
