Ohio owner of killer bear fined on records charge

ELYRIA, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio owner of a bear that fatally mauled a caretaker has pleaded no contest to failing to keep proper animal records.

Sam Mazzola of Columbia Township southwest of Cleveland entered the plea Tuesday in Elyria Municipal Court and was fined $250.

The judge gave him six months to get his animal records in compliance with state law.

Last year, a bear owned by Mazzola killed 24-year-old Brent Kandra after he opened its cage for feeding at the Mazzola home where wolves and tigers also were kept. A coroner determined it was a workplace accident, though animal-rights activists wanted prosecutors to pursue reckless homicide charges against Mazzola.

His attorney, Jeff Brown, tells The Chronicle-Telegram in Elyria that his client never intended to violate the animal-records law.