Briggs Charged With Illegally Shooting Deer

PLACERVILLE — Former state Sen. John Briggs (R-Fullerton) has been charged with illegally shooting a deer.

Briggs, his son and son-in-law, who were also charged, were found in possession of an untagged deer on an El Dorado County ranch by officers following an anonymous tip, Duane Johnston, patrol chief for the state Department of Fish and Game, said Wednesday.

They are scheduled to appear in Placerville Justice Court on Nov. 16.

Johnston said Briggs, 57, his son, Ronald, 30, and son-in-law, Steven Bailey, 35, said the deer was shot because it was feeding on trees on private property.

But none of the men could produce a special permit authorizing the killing of a yearling male deer, which can be granted if a hunter shows the animal is damaging property, Johnston said. He said it is illegal to kill a male deer without branched antlers, in or out of deer season.

Briggs, a conservative Republican and author of California’s 1978 death penalty initiative, retired in 1981 after representing Orange County in the Legislature for 15 years. He was an unsuccessful candidate for GOP nomination for governor in 1978.

Since leaving office, he has worked as a lobbyist in Sacramento, commuting from his home in El Dorado County.

Bailey is deputy director of legislation for the California Department of Social Services. He was an unsuccessful GOP candidate for the Assembly seat held by Democrat Norm Waters of Plymouth in 1982.