2 Men Get Leniency in Cow Killings

Two former Navy airmen who shot eight cows in Churchill County dodged stiff prison sentences after ranchers urged leniency and a lawyer for one described them as “some kids who had more time than sense.”

Joshua Osinski, 23, of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Alan Peters, 21, of Coos Bay, Ore., faced up to 10 years in prison for killing the eight pregnant cows in September.

But acting on the advice of the livestock owners Tuesday, Churchill District Judge Archie Blake suspended their two- to five-year prison sentences for grand larceny.

He ordered them to serve 54 additional days in the County Jail, placed them on five years’ probation and ordered them to pay nearly $6,000 in restitution and do 200 hours community service.

The judge gave them credit for about 60 days already served in jail. They were ordered to reimburse the Navy for $5,600 paid to the owners of the cows and an additional $376 for disposal of the dead animals.

Investigators said each cow suffered multiple wounds. One was shot 12 times. Another was shot as she gave birth.

The two men were arrested days later after one was overheard bragging about the shootings.