The State - News from Oct. 23, 1987

Former Republican state Sen. John Briggs of Fullerton, author of California’s 1978 death penalty initiative, has been charged with illegally shooting a deer in rural El Dorado County, authorities reported. Briggs, his son and son-in-law, who also were charged, were found in possession of an untagged deer by state Department of Fish and Game officers, they said. Officers 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 Briggs, who now lives in the area, and the other two could not produce a special permit authorizing the killing of a yearling male deer when it is shown it is damaging property.