Man denies intent in turkey's death
Toolbox
By Susan Smallheer Herald Staff - Published: November 15, 2006
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A Springfield man pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges that he deliberately ran over a wild turkey in September on his way to anger management class.
Steven J. Lapre, 27, said he's being unfairly singled out for prosecution, noting that hundreds of deer and other wild animals are killed each year on Vermont highways. "How many citations do they hand out for all the dead deer by the side of the road?" Lapre said after his brief arraignment before Judge Robert Bent.
If convicted, Lapre could be fined up to $500 for the violation.
Lapre strongly rejected the charge that he deliberately killed the young turkey hen. Lapre said he actually tried to avoid hitting the flock of turkeys crossing Route 5 and ended up hitting one small hen turkey.
Lapre, who said he wasn't a turkey hunter, said he backed up and got out of his car and picked up the turkey when a man started yelling at him to drop the turkey.
"I guess my mistake was picking it up," Lapre said Tuesday afternoon at White River Junction District Court after his arraignment. He said he immediately dropped the turkey and left.
Lapre said he was on his way to a class in Windsor when he came upon the flock in the road. Lapre wouldn't say what the class was, but according to court records, Lapre was on his way to a class for prevention of domestic abuse. Lapre is on probation for violating an abuse prevention order and disorderly conduct and simple assault.
He said his teacher had urged him to report the turkey killing to the Windsor Police Department, which he did.
Court records stated that two witnesses told Game Warden Steve Majeski that he was driving at a normal rate of speed and then "sped up" to hit the turkey.
Lapre said that he was having trouble with his muffler and that it was especially loud and that's why the people thought he sped up.
Lapre talked to reporters about the case until his public defender, Elizabeth Kruska, ordered him to stop talking.
The unusual fish and wildlife case caused a minor stir in White River Junction District Court Tuesday afternoon, as Lapre made his way from the courtroom to the clerk's office, picked up his paperwork, and headed out the door. "You know how stupid this sounds?" Lapre said.
"You're in court over a turkey?" one woman asked Lapre. "Please."
Windsor County State's Attorney Robert Sand defended the decision to prosecute Lapre, noting that there were two witnesses who said they saw Lapre deliberately swerve to hit the turkey.
"The allegation is that this person deliberately used his car," Sand said.
When asked what kind of car Lapre was driving at the time, Sand quipped, "I think it was a Ford Falcon."
According to Lapre, it was a Honda Accord.
Sand is no stranger to fish and wildlife cases, having once prosecuted someone for attempting to shoot a duck out of season. He won a conviction.
"That's why we have trials," Sand said.
Contact Susan Smallheer at susan.smallheer@rutlandherald.com.
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