Man shot at 'mountain lion' that turned out to be camper

By Associated Press Published: Jun 15, 2009 at 1:03 PM PST Last Updated: Jun 15, 2009 at 3:13 PM PST
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File photo

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — An Astoria man who shot a fellow camper has pleaded no contest to an assault charge.

Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis says 27-year-old Troy Buganan will be sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison. Buganan must also pay the victim's medical bills, which exceed $100,000.

The shooting happened Sept. 15 at a campground along the Nehalem River.

Buganan said he heard rustling in the brush and thought he was being attacked by a mountain lion. He fired a rifle eight to 10 times, striking Benjamin McCauley of Astoria in the head, neck and chest.

Marquis says the authorities don't believe Buganan's version of events and think alcohol played a role in the incident.

McCauley recovered at a Portland hospital.

(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press)