Jeffrey Scott Hawn, a 44-year-old Austin, Texas, businessman who owns a ranch in Park County, was charged with 32 counts of animal cruelty earlier this week, one count of criminal mischief and theft to the tune of $20,000.
You may remember Hawn (pictured) as the man who was accused of allowing hunters last March to kill the bison, which belonged to neighboring rancher, Monte Downare. Hawn had sued Downare just a few days earlier, saying the big beasts had repeatedly broken through a fence and trampled grass, trees, solar panels and a satellite dish, causing lots of monetary damage, according to the Fairplay Flume newspaper.
But this ain’t the Wild West no more, and Buffalo Bill is dead, according to prosecutors who claim Hawn “tortured, needlessly mutilated or needlessly killed" the bison.
And at least Buffalo Bill had a cool beard and moustache.
For previous Shmucks of the Week, click here.
