North Jersey Man Guilty Of Killing Mama Bear, Cubs Out Of Season, Fined $4K

SPARTA TWP., N.J. – The Sparta Township man who killed a mama bear and two cubs in the back of his Sussex County home in 2014 was found guilty on three counts of killing a bear out of season and one count of having a loaded firearm within 450 feet of an occupied building.

Roberth Ehling, 76, will have to pay $4,332 in fines and restitution for his actions stemming from an October 2014 incident in which he claimed he was acting in self-defense, njherald.com reported.

During a trial late in 2015, Ehling’s defense claimed the mama bear was a threat to the homeowner and his wife, as the bruin attempted to get through the back door while the cubs patrolled the deck and yard, the report said.

Court testimony and photos from the scene showed no proof of the animals attempting to enter the home, the report said.