A man pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to four charges of misconduct in national parks, including a now-infamous incident of aggressively provoking a bison.
Raymond Reinke, 55, was arrested in early August after video surfaced of the incident where he waves his arms and runs toward a bison.
The National Park Service says the Oregon man had several run-ins with law enforcement in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks in the weeks leading up to his arrest, including open container and public intoxication. He was also cited for disturbing wildlife after the bison video surfaced online in late July.
Reinke initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but changed his plea during Thursday’s hearing to guilty. He was originally charged with five misdemeanors, but had his charges reduced to four in exchange for his guilty plea.
Judge Mark Carman sentenced Reinke to 60 days in jail on the charge of harassing wildlife for the bison incident, plus 60 days for interfering with law enforcement and 10 days for disorderly conduct, for 130 days total in jail, with credit for 21 days served.
Reinke has also publicly described himself as an alcoholic.
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