Paraglider Charged With Harassing Owl

Former TV pitchman in Utah allegedly kicked one
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 30, 2014 2:07 PM CDT
Paraglider Charged With Harassing Owl
File photo of a barn owl.   (AP Photo/Public Opinion, Noelle Haro-Gomez)

A paraglider accused of chasing and kicking a barn owl is looking at possible jail time and six-figure fines as a result, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. The accused, Dell Schanze, was allegedly featured in a since-deleted YouTube video showing off his owl-harassing ways. Federal wildlife officials weren't amused, and the 45-year-old faces up to 18 months in jail and fines of more than $100,000 if he's found guilty of violating the Airborne Hunting Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. He might lose his motorized paraglider, too.

Schanze is better known to Utah residents as "Super Dell," thanks to over-the-top TV commercials for his now-defunct Totally Awesome Computers business, reports KSL. The station notes that Schanze once spent eight days in jail on a reckless-driving charge. Kids were in the car at the time of his arrest, and Schanze told police he was weaving in the road to entertain them. (More weird crimes stories.)

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