A man who fatally shot a protected mountain lion this summer was sentenced to 30 days in jail Thursday after pleading guilty, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
Alfredo Gonzalez, a 60-year-old resident of Simi Valley, was also sentenced to 30 days in a work-release program, three years of summary probation and he must complete at least 240 hours of community service, the DA’s office stated. He must also pay an undisclosed amount of restitution.
He is expected to enter jail on Oct. 25.
On July 10, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife was told by the National Park Service that P-38 may have been killed after a mortality signal on his GPS-enabled collar went off on July 2. The cougar wore a collar as part of research efforts since 2015.
Born in 2012, P-38 usually roamed areas of the Santa Susana Mountains, according to prosecutors.
He was believed to have fathered three kittens with P-39. The kittens — P-50, P-51 and P-52 — were discovered in the eastern Santa Susana Mountains in July 2016.
Authorities said an investigation eventually determined the cougar died of a gunshot wound to the head. In California, it is unlawful to kill a mountain lion without a permit from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Gonzalez pleaded guilty to charges including unlawful killing of a protected mammal and vandalism of its GPS collar.
The DA’s office previously indicated he was expected to be arraigned in court on Oct. 9. It remains unclear if he struck a plea deal with prosecutors.
