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SALT LAKE CITY — Nothing goes as anticipated when former TV pitchman Dell "Super Dell" Schanze walks into a courtroom.
Prosecutors and his defense attorney thought they had worked out a plea deal. But when it came time for him to admit in federal court Thursday that he harassed a barn owl with his motorized paraglider, Schanze said, "No sir."
After some back and forth with Schanze about the proposed agreement, U.S. District Judge Dee Benson ordered a jury trial for April 20. Schanze faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted.
In addition, U.S. Marshals confiscated what was described as a Swiss Army-type knife from Schanze as he entered the courthouse. They refused to give it back to him on the way out. Prosecutors could ask the judge to consider it a violation of his pre-trial release agreement.
Schanze, who wore dark outdoor survival-type clothes with a fanny pack and sunglasses, repeatedly told reporters after the hearing, "You know I didn't do it."
"Why are you a total liar who tells people that I pull guns and kick owls?" he said. "Why are you the biggest liar on the face of the planet? Tell the truth 'cause the lawyer will be thrust down to hell," he said.
Schanze 45, founder of Totally Awesome Computers and known for his vociferous personality, faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly chasing and kicking an owl while flying in his motorized paraglider in 2011 — an incident that surfaced in a YouTube video two years ago.
Prosecutors had no comment after the hearing.
Benson told Schanze that part of a plea agreement is admitting to facts in open court. "It's pretty simple," the judge said.
Schanze said he thought he would have to plead guilty or not guilty but not "tell the whole world I'm an evil, horrible guy who does bad things." Schanze said he would concede prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him, but that it wasn't fair to "order" him to acknowledge everything.
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Dell Schanze facing federal charges in alleged owl-kicking incident
Former computer store owner and TV pitchman "Superdell" faces federal charges for allegedly chasing an owl with his motorized paraglider more than three years ago.Benson finally asked him to admit to the facts that support a guilty plea or go to trial.
"Believe me, I don't care," the judge said. "This is all up to you."
Odd outbursts and long rants have marked Schanze's court appearances.
Last December, U.S. Marshals temporarily took Schanze, a one-time candidate for governor, into custody after he disrupted the courtroom while waiting for his case to be called.
Prosecutors were prepared to allow him to be released on his own recognizance, but expressed concerns after his courtroom antics. As a condition of his release, the court ordered all guns and ammunition be removed from Schanze's home.
A few weeks later, the court summoned Schanze back because officers weren't allowed to inspect his house for firearms, ammunition or other dangerous weapons. Schanze appealed the gun ban but Benson ruled to keep it in place.
Contributing: Jed Boal
