Man who ran over gosling pleads guilty to misdemeanor
The man charged with running over and killing a gosling in May near the Milan American Legion accepted a plea agreement this morning before his trial began, court officials said.
Norman Stowell pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals, after originally being charged with one count of killing or torturing an animal. His trial was scheduled to begin in Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Archie Brown's courtroom this morning.
Stowell was arrested May 14 after he ran over some geese walking in the grass near the American Legion in Milan, 44 Wabash St. Stowell told police he didn’t mean to run over the geese, but he wasn’t going to stop, wait or drive around them to get to a parking spot.
A gosling was found lying dead in the grass about 50 feet behind a rear parking lot, according to the incident’s police report.
Stowell sped up and drove directly over the geese while they were walking in the grass, witnesses said. He is accused of making an obscene gesture to a woman who yelled at him while he was walking into the American Legion.
Stowell will return to court for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 21, court officials said.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Go Blue
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 3:44 p.m.
Bet next time his anger takes control, he will at least remember to make sure no one is around to witness. Rage does not just go away because someone has to shell out a couple of bucks. Writing a check and walking away is one of the easiest and least toxic hand slapping penalties out there. Doesn't change anything and no doubt he will be thumbing his nose at the system.
RoboLogic
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 1:33 a.m.
He could have honked his horn or got out of his vehicle and yelled or shooed or even slightly aggressively kicked at them( not to hit but scare). Anything but kill one. Nope, he DID it on purpose...you know he did. Couldn't wait to get to that beer inside. Two weekends in Jail and a fine so big he cant afford beer for a couple of months. Dont give me any crap about speculating...I know his type. Ill sleep like a baby tonight knowing I'm right.
quetzalcoatl
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
If they froze the evidence, it might come in handy with Thanksgiving right around the corner
mermaid
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 6:16 p.m.
Not funny
mermaid
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 12:59 p.m.
What an attitude, ......why should I move for a baby goose or any other animal? I can do what ever I what, I am man! He will pay for his cavalier and cruel actions sooner or later. People like him never learn what is right or wrong because they believe that their way is the only way. Jail might have changed his sad little tune. I certainly hope his community time, if any, is not working in the Humane Society.
Kai Petainen
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 2:41 a.m.
it's disturbing how people get in trouble for crimes seen, and not in trouble for crimes unseen. investigate the ones that are seen by the public, drop the ones that no one saw. there are worse things that he could have done to geese and gotten away with.
Kai Petainen
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 1:58 p.m.
"Prosecute people for crimes, plain and simple" I completely agree.
Smart Logic
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 10:25 a.m.
Are you kidding me? There are worse things he could have done, and I hope he would be prosecuted for those if he did them. Prosecute people for crimes, plain and simple.
MIKE
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 3:44 a.m.
DBH - you don't want to know...
DBH
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 3:36 a.m.
What's worse than killing them?
johnnya2
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 1:58 a.m.
I'd love to see the guy do jail time in the same way that drink drivers get many times. Spend weekends in jail for a month and pay for that time. That might stop the next person from thinking it is no big deal to intentionally kill an animal. And for the record, since he has accepted a plea, we no longer need to use allegedly. He is a convicted criminal.
Marilyn Wilkie
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 2:37 a.m.
Amen.
Roadman
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 12:16 a.m.
There was likely an argument that there was no specific intent to kill the gaggle members - that he simply failed to exercise due care not to strike any gosling. He does not appear to have any significant criminal record either. "He is accused of making an obscene gesture to a woman...." I do not believe he was charged with this. I also do not believe there is a crime to cover such conduct.
Marilyn Wilkie
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 2:37 a.m.
Well this is the quote from the original article. So I would say there was some specific intent. "When asked by police why a Canada goose was found lying dead behind his vehicle in an American Legion parking lot, a 69-year-old Milan man offered a simple reply: It didn't move out of the way. Norman Stowell said he didn't mean to run over a group of animals May 14, but he was not going to stop, wait or drive around them to get to a parking spot. "I might not run over a dog, but I would definitely run over a cat," Norman Melvern Stowell told an officer who interviewed him that day, shortly after the goose was found."
RJA
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 11:37 p.m.
I'm glad he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge. I hope he doesn't get jail time, and bet he is glad this will be over before the holidays. Perhaps probation, and learning a lesson the hard way will be enough. (of course include court fines)
Smart Logic
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 9:36 p.m.
He won't get jail time but I'm glad to see him answer for his crime.
Marilyn Wilkie
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 7:51 p.m.
He won't get jail time but I hope this hit's him hard in the pocket book.