A North Dakota woman brings a raccoon into a bar. She gets probation.

BISMARCK, N.D. — A girl who introduced a wild raccoon right into a bar earlier this yr will spend a yr on probation.

On Tuesday, Erin Christensen of Maddock, 38, pleaded responsible to misdemeanor fees of offering false info to regulation enforcement, tampering with proof and illegal possession of a dwell furbearer, reported the Bismarck Tribune.

Northeast District Choose Donovan Foughty gave her a suspended six-month jail sentence and a yr on probation. He additionally ordered her to pay $1,100 in fines and costs.

She confronted a most sentence of about two years in jail and $7,500 in fines.

Based on court docket paperwork, Christensen stated her household discovered the raccoon, nicknamed Rocky, on the aspect of a highway and was nursing it again to well being when she introduced it into the bar on Sept. 6. A bartender stated Rocky didn’t obtained unfastened nor did he chew anybody however state well being officers nonetheless issued a warning about potential rabies publicity.

Authorities arrested Christensen on Sept. 14 after serving a number of search warrants in and round Maddock to seek out her and the raccoon. Based on court docket paperwork, she wouldn’t disclose Rocky’s location.

Protecting a wild raccoon as a pet is unlawful underneath state regulation — as is protecting a bat or skunk as a result of they’re recognized carriers of rabies, based on North Dakota’s Sport and Fish web site. Authorities in the end euthanized the racoon, who examined damaging for rabies.

Christensen has stated Rocky’s destiny has left her household traumatized.