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Alaska man who starred in Animal Planet show pleads guilty to feeding bears

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Alaska authorities say a man featured in a television series about his life among wild bears at his Alaska cabin has pleaded guilty to illegally feeding the bears dog food and cookies.

Assistant state Atty. Gen. Andrew Peterson says 71-year-old Charlie Vandergaw pleaded guilty to eight counts last week. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss an additional 12 counts in the case.

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If terms of the plea agreement are accepted by a judge at Thursday’s sentencing, Vandergaw would get 180 days of suspended jail time and a fine of between $20,000 and $72,000.

A documentary broadcast last year on Animal Planet shows Vandergaw scratching the belly of one black bear and feeding a cookie to another at his cabin, about 40 miles north of Anchorage.

Game officials consider feeding bears a danger to humans.

-- Associated Press, in Anchorage, Alaska

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Video: Animal Planet via YouTube

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