It was the 72-year-old college professor's sixth conviction since 2005 stemming from acts of civil disobedience.
During a 15-minute municipal court appearance, Crain acknowledged standing in the way of a pickup truck Dec. 12 as its driver was exiting the Whittingham Wildlife Management Area in Fredon.
On the truck was a dead bear.
"My action was intended to dramatize the horror we are inflicting on these animals," Crain, reading from a prepared statement, told Judge James Devine.
Crain pleaded guilty to a civil offense, using a state wildlife management area contrary to posted regulation, for which a $1,500 fine is the maximum punishment.
Two other charges carrying up to six months in jail -- obstructing the administration of law and recklessly creating a hazardous or physically dangerous condition -- were dismissed.
Crain, in a recent New Jersey Herald interview, expressed a willingness to go to jail.
Municipal Prosecutor Anthony Arbore, though, endorsed the agreement that Crain's attorney, Daniel Perez, had arranged with state wildlife officials.
"Martyrdom will have to wait another day for Dr. Crain," said Arbore, who prosecuted Crain in 2014 after his fifth arrest.
Devine appeared to toy with the prospect of sending Crain to jail, before stating his willingness to accept Arbore's recommendation. He had fined Crain $1,000 two years ago.
"This can't go on in this fashion," Devine said, though conceding that Crain's acts of civil disobedience were conducted "in a gentlemanly way."
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| Dead bears shot by New Jersey residents who like to pretend the bears were being vicious and dangerous. Are these real men? Are they brave hunters? No. They sat in a tree and shot a bear from hundreds of yards away. Bears that were drawn in by doughnuts. |
Recounting the circumstances of Crain's sixth arrest on Dec. 12 arrest, Perez said, "It is hard to come up with a less disruptive act of civil disobedience than this one."
Arbore, addressing Crain, said he should reconsider his approach "in this day and age," asserting that there are ways for him to convey his message without breaking the law.
Referencing Crain's stated willingness to go to jail, Arbore warned that that just might be the outcome if he were arrested for a seventh time.
"It may not just be for a weekend. It may be for a lot longer," Arbore said.
To that, Crain replied, "I never said a weekend."
Devine did not directly threaten Crain with jail if arrested again but said he would face increasingly stiff penalties.
New Jersey family films family of bears in pool
"If this does continue, all I can explain to you is these penalties will grow," Devine said.
Upon exiting the courtroom, Crain was asked by a reporter whether he planned to continue with civil disobedience at the bear hunts.
"I have a hunch I'll be continuing," Crain said.
Perez confirmed that sentiment, stating, "Bill Crain will continue to get arrested until New Jersey ends the bear hunt."
Crain was also ordered to pay $33 for court costs.
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| People in New Jersey like to think they're big, bold hunters but what they really do is throw out some doughnuts and shoot bears |
A total of 510 bears were killed, the second highest-total since the hunt resumed in 2003 after a 32-year moratorium.
Crain was joined Thursday by about 10 supporters, including his wife, Ellen.
Bill and Ellen Crain live on a farm in Dutchess County, N.Y., that serves as a sanctuary for abused and neglected animals.
(New Jersey Herald - Jan 15, 2016)
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