Crime & Safety

Man Who Struck and Killed Geese Pleads No Contest

A 69-year-old St. Clair Shores resident plead no contest Friday a charge of animal cruelty for striking and killing two geese.

A 69-year-old St. Clair Shores man who plead no contest to a charge of animal cruelty was admonished Friday by 40th District Court Judge Mark Fratarcangeli before sentencing.

Richard E. Lesko was originally charged with two counts of killing an animal for driving his pickup Aug. 9 into a flock of geese crossing the road in front of his home in the 22000 block of Lange Street.

He then reportedly turned his truck around and drove through the flock a second time, killing a second goose.

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"This is a particularly troublesome case because of your apparent disregard and respect for life," Fratarcangeli said. "I wouldn’t want you living next to my kids. I wouldn’t want you in my neighborhood if you could be this insensitive."

Lesko plead no contest to an added count of animal cruelty and the two previous charges were dismissed. Fratarcangeli sentenced him to one year of probation, 60 hours of community service and a psychiatric exam.

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"He's got a very clean record," defense attorney John Frazer said. "I think we won't be seeing him back here again."

The lifelong St. Clair Shores resident shared his remorse for the incident.

"I am certainly regretful for what happened," Lesko said. He added that he is "getting older and slower."

He also was assessed $1,400 in fines and costs and is to seek a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation.

St. Clair Shores Police Detective Margaret Eidt, who received a number of calls about the case by concerned residents, was disappointed at the outcome.

"I am absolutely sickened at the fact the charges were reduced," she said.


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