In southwest Missouri, a family of poachers got busted for the illegal killing of "several hundred deer" over the course of three years. Father Dave Berry Sr. and his two sons, Kyle Berry and Dan Berry Jr, reportedly shot trophy bucks at night, taking the heads and antlers, while leaving the bodies of the deer to rot where they fell. Authorities do not know exactly how many deer the family senselessly slaughtered, but it's more than enough to break any animal lover's heart.
Randy Doman, division chief of the Missouri Department of Conservation, stated the poachers' motivation was not money, but "greed and ego." "Taking just the heads is their version of obtaining a ‘trophy,’ and leaving the carcass behind is merely an afterthought," he explained to the Springfield News-Leader. "While there are some cases where poachers go after the antlers for profit, with this bunch it was more about the thrill of the kill itself."
This is not the Berry family's first offense. According to Missouri's Conservation Department, 20-year-old Eric Barry - apparently another son - was caught spotlighting' in 2017. In case you're a city slicker, 'spotlighting' is an illegal method of hunting nocturnal animals by using high-powered lights to catch them, presumably because you suck so much at hunting, you can't hit any deer in the daylight. Also, in 2016, David Berry Sr. and Eric Berry were convicted of taking gamefish by hand in Dade County. So, real class act, this Berry family.
After pleading guilty, 29-year-old Dave Berry Jr. was sentenced to one year in jail. In addition, the judge added a unique punishment that is both perfect and extremely amusing. According to court records, Berry Jr. is required "to view the Walt Disney movie Bambi, with the first viewing being on or before Dec. 23, and at least one such viewing each month thereafter," for his entire duration in jail.
In the 1942 animated classic, Bambi's mother is killed by hunters in a heartbreaking scene. At least, decent human beings cry because Bambi's mother is dead. A criminal poacher trash person like Dave Berry Jr. will probably weep because the hunters didn't kill Bambi too. But hey, here's hoping he learns his lesson. (Oh, and in addition to this sentencing, Berry Jr. was sentenced to 120 days in jail in a nearby county for a felony firearms probation violation.)
To the surprise of no one, David Berry Sr. and David Berry Jr's hunting, fishing and trapping privileges have been revoked for life. Meanwhile, Kyle Berry had his privileges rescinded for eight years, and Eric Berry had his privileges rescinded for 18 years. "To date, this group of poachers has paid $151,000 in bonds and $51,000 in fines and court costs and collectively served 33 days in jail," stated the Conservation Department.
I like this concept of including Disney movies with criminal punishment. Maybe perjurers can be sentenced to watch Pinocchio, and backstabbing regicidal lions can be sentenced to watch The Lion King.
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