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WAUPACA — A rural Weyauwega man who ran down and slaughtered several deer with a snowmobile will serve 11 years in prison for the crime, but the sentence will run concurrent to the 23 years he already is serving for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk.
Rory A. Kuenzi, 27, pleaded no contest Tuesday in Waupaca County Court to three counts of felony animal mistreatment in the January 2009 incident along a trail in the Town of Lind.
He also pleaded no contest to two forfeiture offenses for possessing deer carcasses during a closed season.
Last November, a jury found Kuenzi guilty of homicide by drunken driving and hit-and-run in the 2004 death of Kevin McCoy.
Kirk, who sentenced Kuenzi in January for the homicide, said he cited the deer case as “more evidence of a sociopathic personality” and wouldn’t punish Kuenzi for that personality for a second time.
In addition to prison, Kuenzi also was sentenced to six years of extended supervision for the animal mistreatment counts and ordered to pay $1,000 in fines for each of the hunting violations.
Kuenzi is serving his sentence at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage.
Kuenzi, his brother, Robby Kuenzi, and Nicholas Hermes were each charged in connection to the deer deaths.
Hermes and Robby Kuenzi will appear in court in December for status conferences on their case.
This morning, the courthouse was under heightened security in advance of Rory Kuenzi’s sentencing.
Sheriff’s deputies used a metal detector to check those entering the building.
Animal welfare advocates placed a placard at the courthouse doors advocating for a harsh sentence.
WAUPACA — A rural Weyauwega man who ran down and slaughtered several deer with a snowmobile will serve 11 years in prison for the crime, but the sentence will run concurrent to the 23 years he already is serving for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk.
Rory A. Kuenzi, 27, pleaded no contest Tuesday in Waupaca County Court to three counts of felony animal mistreatment in the January 2009 incident along a trail in the Town of Lind.
He also pleaded no contest to two forfeiture offenses for possessing deer carcasses during a closed season.
Last November, a jury found Kuenzi guilty of homicide by drunken driving and hit-and-run in the 2004 death of Kevin McCoy.
Kirk, who sentenced Kuenzi in January for the homicide, said he cited the deer case as “more evidence of a sociopathic personality” and wouldn’t punish Kuenzi for that personality for a second time.
In addition to prison, Kuenzi also was sentenced to six years of extended supervision for the animal mistreatment counts and ordered to pay $1,000 in fines for each of the hunting violations.
Kuenzi is serving his sentence at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage.
Kuenzi, his brother, Robby Kuenzi, and Nicholas Hermes were each charged in connection to the deer deaths.
Hermes and Robby Kuenzi will appear in court in December for status conferences on their case.
This morning, the courthouse was under heightened security in advance of Rory Kuenzi’s sentencing.
Sheriff’s deputies used a metal detector to check those entering the building.
Animal welfare advocates placed a placard at the courthouse doors advocating for a harsh sentence.
