Some want man who shot & killed bear cub charged with felony

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    GOLDEN GATE ESTATES, Florida (WBBH) — Some Golden Gate Estates are still mourning the loss of a blackbear cub that they named ‘Bailey Cub.’

Bailey was shot and killed in the woods behind homes on 6th Avenue Northeast — more than a year ago on June 2, 2020. A couple days later, Golden Gate Estates residents noticed vultures in the woods and called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Kyle Stevens was arrested more than a month later on July 14, accused of shooting the gun from his back porch. He was taken to jail on a warrant for an illegal take of a blackbear.

Stevens claimed he was protecting his dogs, but neighbors said that the cub was nowhere near the animals.

Since his arrest, the case is still waiting to go to trial due to COVID-19 restrictions in court. His last court date was on May 25 when a judge granted him a motion of a “return of firearm for testing.”

Bailey’s supporters hope the judge will raise the misdemeanor charge to a felony.

The next court date for Stevens is on June 23.

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