In brief: Mule deer’s mystery antlers explained
LEWISTON – A mule deer buck that was a frequent visitor in various parts of Lewiston has died, but the mystery surrounding his strange antlers has been solved.
The deer didn’t shed his antlers every year like most bucks do, the Lewiston Tribune reported. Some fans called him Brillo, as in Brillo Pad, because his scraggly antlers were constantly covered in the soft fuzzy tissue known as velvet.
Since 2011, the deer would appear in town every July and disappear again in October.
The deer, it turns out, lacked testicles and never went into rut – and that, biologists say, was the reason he never lost his antlers and they were always in velvet.
It’s unclear why the deer died about a week ago. Residents say his ribs began to show, perhaps from an illness.
Citing of ‘Dixie’ lyrics leads to plea deal
NAMPA, Idaho – An Idaho man is agreeing to be convicted of lewd conduct with a child under 16 after an appellate court vacated his sex crime convictions involving two white girls because the prosecutor quoted lyrics from the Confederate anthem “Dixie.”
James D. Kirk, 47, who is black, entered an Alford plea Friday in 3rd District Court in Canyon County, the Idaho Press-Tribune reported. An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt but acknowledges that there is enough evidence to convict.
Kirk was sentenced to 20 years in prison in April 2013 after a jury found him guilty of lewd conduct against a 17-year-old girl and sexual battery of a 13-year-old girl in a Nampa motel room.
An appellate court later agreed that Canyon County Deputy Prosecutor Erica Kallin erred in citing a song praising what the judges called pernicious racism, and that it might have influenced the jury even if she didn’t intend it to be racist.
Friday’s plea agreement means attorneys will recommend Kirk be sentenced to 12 years in prison, with four years fixed.
Kallin said the state did not want to subject the reported victims to another trial.
Coast Guard copter rescues kayaker, 74
SEQUIM, Wash. – A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a 74-year-old man who had gone missing in the waters off Sequim while kayaking with his grandson.
Authorities received a report from the man’s wife at about 12:20 p.m. Saturday indicating he had gone missing. A 45-foot response boat and the helicopter launched out of Station Port Angeles to search the area.
The Coast Guard said the helicopter crew located and hoisted the man from the water. He was safely transferred to medical personnel at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles.
The man was wearing a life jacket, which officials say helped rescuers to locate him and dramatically increased his chance for survival.
Deputy kills man near fairgrounds
SUPERIOR, Mont. – A Mineral County deputy shot and killed a man near the county fairgrounds in Superior.
Police said the shooting occurred Friday night but didn’t release any details Saturday.
The Montana Department of Criminal Investigation and the Montana Highway Patrol are investigating.
Superior is about 50 miles northwest of Missoula.
Three-day rave at farm canceled
SILVERTON, Ore. – Authorities in Marion County have canceled a three-day rave festival in Silverton.
The Sheriff’s Office said the event was illegal and obtained an injunction barring it from taking place, the Statesman Journal reported.
The three-day “Boombox in da Boondox” rave was scheduled to begin Friday and continue through today. About a thousand people were expected to attend the event at a farm. It was to feature music, laser performances, art installations and weekend camping.
According to court documents, the producers of the event did not have the proper outdoor mass gathering, fire code, electrical and structural permits.
Sheriff’s officials were also concerned about illegal drug use and cooking and outdoor glass-blowing in dry farm and timber area, which is a serious fire hazard.
Gay rights activist’s abuse trial delayed
PORTLAND – A Lane County judge has postponed the sex abuse trial of prominent gay rights activist Terry Bean to give investigators more time to track down the alleged 17-year-old victim, who has gone into hiding.
The trial, which was supposed to start Tuesday, is now scheduled for Sept. 1, the Register-Guard reported. Prosecutor Scott Healy requested the delay because authorities have not been able to find the teen and serve him with a subpoena.
The boy’s attorney, Lori Deveney, previously told prosecutors her client had agreed to a financial settlement and did not want to testify.
A judge, however, rejected the deal and ruled criminal charges should be pursued because an adult shouldn’t be allowed to sidestep child sexual abuse allegations by compensating a victim.
Prosecutors say the teen is taking “extraordinary measures” not to be found.
Bean, 66, and his former boyfriend, Kiah Lawson, 25, of Junction City, are accused of sexually abusing the boy at a Eugene hotel in 2013 when he was 15. Prosecutors said the teen was paid $40 for the encounter.
The two men have pleaded not guilty to two counts of sodomy and one count of sexual abuse.
Bean is a Portland real estate developer who helped found two national political groups, the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.