BEULAH -- DeAnn Mosher holds no ill will against a neighbor who's charged with a misdemeanor for fatally shooting her pregnant breeding cow, Hannah.
Mosher said a charge of reckless or negligent discharge of a firearm against Thompsonville resident Richard Buckner was appropriate, and that her family is working to recover restitution to replace the slain animal.
"I certainly thought there would have been additional charges ... but that is up to the prosecutor to decide what's most offensive and what's most appropriate," Mosher said. "We don't hold any grudges against (Buckner). We live in a small community and I guess we just have to accept some of the things that happen in a small community and move on."
The cow shooting gained national notoriety after Buckner told Benzie County sheriff's officials he thought he had his sights set on a coyote when he downed the 1,400-pound bovine near his Colfax Township residence on Wooden Bridge Road early Nov. 17.
The cream-and-white cow had wandered away from a neighboring farm when Buckner allegedly fired on the animal, but the cow didn't die with the initial shot.
Buckner allegedly shot the animal twice more and chained it to his vehicle.
Mosher's father witnessed Buckner dragging the cow behind his truck and alerted authorities.
Sheriff's officials requested numerous charges against Buckner including hunting without a proper small-game license and attempting to take a game animal during closed season. Benzie County Prosecutor Anthony J. Cicchelli authorized a single misdemeanor count late last week, Undersheriff Rory Heckman said.
"I think they probably should have looked at a (Department of Natural Resources) charge, also. This guy wasn't being a responsible hunter," Heckman said. "I think a little jail time would be appropriate for him to get the impact of how negligent what he did was. That could've been another hunter. That is one of the basic rules of hunting, identify your target before you discharge your gun."
Buckner is cooperating with investigators and is expected to turn himself in within the next two weeks, Heckman said. He did not return a message seeking comment Monday.
Cicchelli said the charge is sufficient.
"I am not in the habit of justifying my decisions to the newspaper when the police want additional charges," he said. "The charge is enough to address the situation."
Mosher said she's working to determine Hannah's value.
"We will just be glad when it is finally over with," she said. "It is just an unfortunate incident."
