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| Local man arrested for 'serial' deer killings |
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| Oregon State Police make arrest after lengthy investigation |
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By Kevin Gaboury
A Prineville man was arrested last Friday for multiple wildlife-related crimes in what one Oregon State Police trooper described as a "serial-type killing of wildlife."
Ronald A. Livermore, 60, was taken into custody after an Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish and Wildlife Division investigation of the deaths of dozens of deer that were shot and left to waste beside U.S. Forest Service roads.
In August of last year, OSP aircraft helped locate a suspect spotlighting in the general area where the carcasses were found. This led police to contact Livermore, who was found to be in possession of a sawed-off .22 rifle with a home-built silencer.
A subsequent forensic examination confirmed that the weapon had been used in the killing.
Livermore was arrested on multiple charges, including possession of a short-barreled rifle with a silencer, tampering with evidence, illegal taking of a deer in closed season, waste of deer, hunting while suspended, attempted taking of wildlife during closed season, hunting with the aid of a light and aggravated animal abuse.
Investigators believe that Livermore, who admitted to being a vegetarian, would spotlight for deer, shoot them, and continue on, looking for more, according to an OSP press release.
Most of the deer were female and were either pregnant or had recently given birth, investigators said.
OSP Senior Troop Amos Madison made the arrest on Friday and lodged Livermore in the Crook County Jail, where he is still in custody.
According to Lieutenant Greg Hastings of the Oregon State Police, each of the charges against Livermore are Class-A misdemeanors and are punishable by a fine of $6,250 per count and up to one year in jail. |
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