“They came about due to political pressure from an online petition,” Michele Tjader told Court Commissioner Scott McAndrew during Rausch’s initial appearance Thursday morning.
Each felony count carries a fine up to $10,000 and imprisonment up to three years. Rausch faces an additional fine up to $10,000 and imprisonment up to nine months for the misdemeanor charge.
According to the criminal complaint, Rausch was hunting for coyotes at night when he mistook two dogs belonging to Deanna Clark for coyotes. One dog he shot died immediately. The other died days later. The Dane County sheriff’s report on the incident noted that Rausch was “visibly upset and shaken. [He] stated he never meant for this to happen.”
Assistant District Attorney Tim Helmberger proposed three bail conditions for Rausch — that he be banned from hunting, from possessing a dangerous weapon and from contacting Clark. Tjader argued against the first two conditions, offering that Rausch was a lifelong hunter, had never had a DNR citation and has no criminal history.
Tjader declined to answer questions or allow her client to speak to reporters after the hearing.
The preliminary hearing for Rausch is set for April 27.
(Isthmus - April 14, 2016)
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