New Jersey man sentenced for killing bear

A federal judge sentenced a New Jersey man to three years probation for transporting a bear that he illegally killed across state lines to conceal the crime.

Martin Kaszycki of Ringwood appeared in court on Friday.

Prosecutors say the 36-year-old killed the 450-pound male black bear in Passaic County in 2012 and drove the carcass to New York, where he said he had killed the animal in Sterling State Forest.

Authorities say he took the bear's skull and hide to a taxidermy shop in Pennsylvania

Prosecutors say he staged a kill site when confronted by New Jersey Fish and Wildlife officers.

Under terms of the plea agreement, Kaszycki must pay a $5,000 fine and $1,250 to a wildlife refuge, forfeit his trophy and is prohibited from hunting and fishing.

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