A 57-year-old Texas man faces a federal misdemeanor charge of discharging a firearm in a national park after he reported shooting a charging bear with his .357 revolver.
Brian R. Murphy's attorney is scheduled to plead not guilty on Murphy's behalf during a court hearing in West Glacier on Friday. Murphy is scheduled to appear via video.
Charging documents say Murphy was hiking on the Mount Brown Lookout Trail on July 26 when a grizzly bear charged him. He told rangers he discharged his bear spray and fired a shot when the bear continued toward him. The wounded bear fled and could not be located.
It is legal to carry a gun in Glacier National Park but it is illegal to discharge it. A conviction carries a $500 fine.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
