Randall Lee Bertsch, 71, of Irvine was charged with multiple felony counts after prosecutors say he killed one duckling and severely injured another by striking them with a plastic recycling bin. The May incident, captured on video, occurred while residents attempted to remove a Mallard and her 10 ducklings from a community pool. Bertsch posted $20,000 bail; prosecutors later sought a $50,000 arrest warrant and an in-custody arraignment was set for June 26. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to seven years and six months behind bars.
Irvine Man, 71, Charged With Felony After Duckling Killed in Community Pool Incident
A 71-year-old Irvine resident, Randall Lee Bertsch, has been charged with multiple felony counts after prosecutors say he grabbed ducklings from a community swimming pool and used a plastic recycling bin to strike them, killing one and seriously injuring another, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said.
Incident Details
The episode occurred in May as neighbors tried to guide a Mallard mother and her 10 ducklings out of a community pool area. The attack was captured on video; officials say the mother and eight of the ducklings appear to have escaped injury.
Online court records dated May 13 show Bertsch faces two felony counts of animal cruelty and three felony counts of attempted animal cruelty. Records indicate he posted $20,000 bail on May 15, and prosecutors later sought a $50,000 arrest warrant.
"Due to the violence inflicted on the ducklings in an attempt to kill as many as he could," the district attorney's office said, explaining the request for increased bail.
An in-custody arraignment was scheduled for the morning of Friday, June 26. If convicted on all counts, Bertsch faces a potential maximum sentence of seven years and six months in jail, the district attorney's office said.
Reporting by Paris Barraza of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected]. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY.
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