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Man seen taunting bison in viral video in Yellowstone Park sentenced to 130 days in jail

Posted at 6:13 PM, Aug 23, 2018
and last updated 2019-07-17 14:51:51-04

 

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. – The Oregon man seen in a viral video taunting a bison in Yellowstone National Park has been sentenced to 130 days in jail by a federal judge in Wyoming.

Raymond Reinke, 55, pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the early August incident, when he was captured on video posted of Facebook appearing to taunt a bison on a road in Hayden Valley.

He had initially pleaded not guilty to all charges on Aug. 8 but changed his plea Thursday before Judge Mark Carman in Yellowstone District Court in Wyoming.

Reinke was arrested in Glacier National Park on Aug. 2 on multiple charges, including threatening or resisting a government employee.

Reinke, who is from Pendleton, Ore. was first arrested on July 28 at Grand Teton National Park for a drunk and disorderly conduct incident. He spent the night in the Teton County Jail, and was then released on bond.

He then went to Yellowstone National Park, where rangers stopped his vehicle for a traffic violation on July 31. Reinke appeared to be intoxicated and argumentative. He was cited as a passenger for failure to wear a seat belt. Authorities believe that after that traffic stop, Reinke encountered the bison.

Yellowstone rangers received several wildlife harassment reports from concerned visitors and found Reinke later that evening, issuing a citation requiring a court appearance. The video of the event surfaced after that citation had been issued.

On Aug. 2, Yellowstone rangers connected Reinke’s extensive history, and seeing the egregious nature of the wildlife violation, an assistant U.S. attorney for Wyoming requested his bond be revoked. The request was granted and on the night of Aug. 2, a warrant was issued for Reinke’s arrest.

Reinke had told rangers that his plans were to travel to Glacier National Park, which is where rangers found him after being called to the Many Glacier Hotel because two guests were arguing and creating a disturbance in the hotel dining room. Rangers identified one of the individuals involved as Reinke.

Watch here to see more information on Reinke’s arrest: