Worcester dairy farmer Dan Stannard -- charged last November with discharging a firearm too close to a dwelling -- has succeeded in having the charge withdrawn after vigorously asserting his innocence.
The Daily Star reported in February that Stannard defended his conduct by asserting he had no choice but to shoot and kill a raccoon that he believed was rabid and posed a threat to his livestock.
Stannard tried to draw public attention to his protest over the charge brought against him by a state environmental conservation officer by displaying home-made billboards on Route 7 in Worcester that made derogatory comments about Otsego County District Attorney John Muehl and the officer who cited him.
"I told everybody there was no way in hell I would ever take a plea bargain," Stannard said this week. "I had witnesses who saw the coon trying to attack me."
The dead animal was never tested to determine if it was rabid. Stannard said some officials in Worcester also tried to pressure him to remove the signs, but he refused, saying he was simply exercising his right of free speech. However, the signs have since been taken down.
"I've got no arguments with anybody now," he said.
The case against Stannard was recently transferred from Worcester Town Court to Maryland Town Court. Assistant District Attorney Marvin Parshall Jr. said Stannard urged Maryland Town Justice Paul Barnhart to dismiss the charge.
Parshall said he did not oppose the request, and the judge agreed to squash the charge.
Local News
Charge dropped against raccoon-shooting farmer
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21-year-old man drowns in West Branch Delaware River
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Most area schools beat N.Y. grad rate
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SUNY chief honors 15 local educators
Fifteen faculty and staff at the area's three public colleges have gleaned 2012-13 Chancellor's Awards for Excellence.
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Oneonta to name new superintendent
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Delaware deputies charge 7 in drug bust
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Norwich gets $5M for water treatment
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Ex-curator named new city clerk
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Planners to look at two projects|
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Oneonta School District to appoint superintendent
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Norwich gets more than $5 million in federal loan and grant
The city of Norwich will be receiving a $4,022,000 loan and $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program to go toward building a water treatment plant to replace a century-old facility.
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Oneonta resident Douglas Kendall picked for city clerk
Oneonta resident Douglas Kendall has been selected by Oneonta City Manager Michael Long to succeed Jim Koury as city clerk, pending approval by the Common Council on Tuesday night, according to a memorandum today by Long.
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Area twins earn Eagle Scout awards
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Crouch: Budget cuts to be restored
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AREA NEWS
- Saturday, June 15, 2013
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Threats reported at two schools
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Delaware coroner proposal nixed
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Police: Area man's charges dropped
No charges were filed against a Bainbridge man taken into custody on felony charges after the complainant was found to have made a false statement, state police at Sidney said Friday.
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Heavy rains flood Schoharie roads
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Pipeline planners file for license
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Briggs Pool opens Saturday
The Briggs Pool in Wilber Park will open for the season Saturday, according to a media release from the city of Oneonta.
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21-year-old man drowns in West Branch Delaware River
