Bend wildlife rescue co-founder gets probation, community service

(Update: Bonomo sentenced to probation, community service, fined $100)

The co-founder of a Bend wildlife rehabilitation center, accused of inadequate care that injured some animals, was sentenced Monday to two years probation and 80 hours community service and ordered not to possess wildlife or engage in wildlife rehabilitation.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby imposed the sentence, along with a $100 fine, on Jeanette Bonomo, 43, who e ntered no-contest pleas last month to two misdemeanor charges of violating wildlife law.

Bonomo and veterinarian Dr. Jeffrey Cooney, 61, the co-founders of High Desert Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Bend, were indicted last August on 19 counts each of second-degree animal neglect and three counts of wildlife law violations.

Under a plea agreement, Bonomo pleaded no contest to two of the 22 counts against her: two misdemeanor counts of violation of wildlife law “with a culpable mental state,” meaning actions taken intentionally, knowingly or recklessly.

Ashby on Monday also amended the two counts in the no-contest plea to include that the actions were taken “with criminal neligience.”

Bonomo and Cooney had been scheduled to go on trial on the charges on May 8, and court records Monday showed Cooney’s trial is still set for that date, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for May 3.

Under a no-contest plea, Bonomo did not admit guilt, but acknowledged the evidence that would be presented at trial likely could result in a conviction.

Bonomo’s lawyer, Erick Ward, told Deschutes County Circuit Judge Beth Bagley last month that if the case had gone to trial, prosecutors would have presented evidence that she failed to maintain proper records and held wildlife beyond the 180 days allowed by state law.

He said the evidence also would show that in the 13 months in question, August 2015 through August 2016, Bonomo illegally took, hunted, trapped or possessed, or assisted another, in the same wildlife law violations by failing to maintain the required records.

District Attorney John Hummel said last August that the pair had failed to provide minimum care for numerous animals in their care, and some animals were injured as a result of their deficient care, including hawks, bald and golden eagles, owls and northern flickers.

The allegations came to light based on a 2016 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife visit to the wildlife rescue, prompted by complaints to ODFW other area wildlife rehabilitators, as well as complaints by volunteers at the facility.

ODFW staff removed the animals and, based on their condition, either placed them with other rehabiltators or euthanized them. The agency referred the matter to the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division, which conducted a criminal investigation and presented their findings to the DA.