Alberta MLA Derek Fildebrandt has pleaded guilty to a charge involving illegally shooting a deer on private land and must pay $3,000 in penalties.
The Independent member for Strathmore-Brooks was charged late last year with unlawful possession of wildlife — a white-tailed deer — and entering onto private land during a hunting excursion. The latter charge was withdrawn by prosecutor Craig Kallal after a plea deal was negotiated with defence lawyer Dale Fedorchuk.
On Nov. 4, 2017, one of the landowners arrived home to see a truck parked in her field. The driver said his “buddy had just shot a deer” and that the pair had permission to be on the land. The woman informed him she and her husband owned the property and had not given anyone permission to be there.
The facts of the case were read aloud at Didsbury provincial court on Friday morning.
Fildebrandt appeared, dragging the deer toward the truck when he was confronted by the landowner, telling her be believed he was on Crown land.
According to the agreed statement of facts, Fildebrandt did not see the “No Hunting” signs around the property.
Fish and Wildlife officers arrived and advised Fildebrandt the deer could be donated to the food bank, which he agreed to do. Those officers noted he was “extremely apologetic” throughout the situation.
More to come