Coach Charged With Beheading Bird

Originally published by The Associated Press, May 1, 2002

RICHMOND, Ind. — A high school wrestling coach who bit the head off a live sparrow at a party with his team served community service rather than face an animal cruelty charge.

Aron Bright, a coach and history and geography teacher at Avon High School, could have been sentenced to a maximum one year in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted.

Bright, 31, served a two-week suspension without pay from the school and was suspended from the Cloverdale Police Department, where he is a reserve officer.

Bright admitted to biting the head off the sparrow Dec. 28 at his parents' home in Centerville while he and some assistant coaches, along with 15 varsity wrestlers, were attending a two-day meet nearby.

Word of the incident spread around the school. Sheriff's investigators began an investigation based on a complaint from an animal abuse group.

Prosecutors on Tuesday requested that the criminal charge against Bright be dropped in exchange for his two days of community service.

Bright has said the incident was "innocent fun" intended to motivate his team. He also expressed remorse and said he acted unprofessionally.