A 58-year-old Victorville man has pleaded no contest to charges related to the fatal shooting of a bear at Lake Mary on September 22.

Shortly after the shooting, officials described that the man had been having a picnic with a female companion when the bear, a sow, approached. Another person was able to scare the bear away for a time, but when the bear returned the man shot the sow with a large caliber pistol.

After a lengthy investigation that involved the Mono District Attorneys Office, Fish and Game and others, Mono DA George Booth filed charges in this case in December. The Victorville resident, Roy Flores, was charged with unlawful take of a bear without a tag, with a firearm. The second charge is for unlawful discharge of a firearm in a prohibited area.

On Monday, February 1, Flores pleaded no contest to both of the charges. Both charges are misdemeanors which can entail up to six months in jail and/or fines. District Attorney Booth explained that the case was referred to probation to make a sentence recommendation. The man is scheduled to be sentenced March 29th.