Former TV Pitchman And Libertarian Candidate For Governor In Utah Briefly Arrested Before Hearing Began

Dell "Super Dell" Schanze was making his first appearance in court for allegedly chasing an endangered owl with his powered paraglider recently, and it did not go particularly well for the former TV pitchman and Libertarian candidate for Governor in Utah.

Schanze overheard the judge order a defendant in a previous case to give up all his private guns as a condition of his release from jail. "That's totally unconstitutional," Schanze said in the courtroom.

The judge, U.S. Magistrate Brook Wells, ordered him to be quiet, but when he continued to object, he was removed from the court and brought back in handcuffs and with a chain around his waist, according to a report in the Deseret News.

He reportedly became more cooperative after that.

It also cost Schanze all of his guns. After learning that Schanze has "strong feelings" about the second amendment from Prosecutor Jared Bennett, the judge ordered him to remove all the guns from his house or go to jail. Wells also suggested Schanze look for a job after he asserted that he was broke, and to have his mental health evaluated.

Schanze blamed the media for costing him his business. He said the case should be dismissed because "it's all based on a fake YouTube video." That video allegedly shows Scanze chasing an endangered owl in his powered paraglider two years ago. The powered paraglider community sharply criticized the actions saying it reflected poorly on them all, and asked for the investigation.

If convicted of using an aircraft to harass wildlife, Schanze faces a $100,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

(Image from YouTube Video)

FMI: www.utd.uscourts.gov