MANISTIQUE, Mich. (AP) — A southern Michigan man has accepted a plea deal in an Upper Peninsula cougar poaching case and been sentenced to community service and fines.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says Todd A. Richard pleaded no contest in Manistique District Court on Monday to taking or possessing an endangered animal. Judge Mark Luoma sentenced the 44-year-old to perform 24 hours of community service and fined him $625.

Richard is from the Saginaw County community of Burt.

Richard's father Theodore and his brother Troy pleaded guilty in the case a month ago.

Troy Richard says he shot the big cat in December because it approached his father and wouldn't flee when he yelled at it.

But the judge says he doesn't believe the self-defense claim.

———

Online: www.michigan.gov/cougars