A four-woman jury deliberated about 30 minutes Tuesday before finding a Stansbury Park woman guilty of creating a public nuisance by feeding more than 200 ducks every day on Stansbury Lake.

Barbara Litz, a 44-year-old mother of two, was ordered by Judge William E. Pitt to stop feeding the ducks immediately following the one-day trial in the Tooele Valley Justice Court.But Pitt deferred sentencing until Oct. 6 at 8:30 a.m., saying he was "more interested in finding a solution to this problem" than in fining or incarcerating Litz.

The "problem" is that the large population of mostly domestic ducks on the lake could face starvation unless some entity takes on the responsibility for the ducks and their feeding.

Pitt said he wants some communication from the green belt district and homeowners association at Stansbury Park as well as input from federal fish and game authorities.

The judge noted the ducks technically are "owned by the federal government," although Stansbury officials may have some responsibility for them.

A string of prosecution witnesses testified a large concentration of ducks congregated on a small arm of Stans-bury Lake where their homes and that of Litz are located.

They said problems with extreme noise and excessive duck droppings along with accompanying odor and water pollution problems were making their lives miserable and were harmful to their peace and property.

"I don't hate ducks," said Dennis Spicer, who lives a short distance across the water from Litz and says he can no longer use his small boat dock because of perpetual deposits of duck dung.

"But it's like having 200 feral cats in your back yard," he added. "It's a bit much."

Deputy County Attorney John Dow, also a Stansbury Park resident, told jurors the case was unusual because it was not necessary to prove Litz guilty of criminal intent to convict her of the class-B misdemeanor.

All that was necessary, he said, was to show that the ducks had endangered or injured the property or the "comfort or repose" of three or more neighboring residents.

Dow also told the court that Litz's neighbors are "victims" of a well-intentioned crime because they "are unable to enjoy their property in the way they want."

Litz admitted she has been feeding the ducks at considerable personal expense but said it is because the green belt district and the homeowners association at Stansbury Park had refused to accept responsibility for the ducks.

She said many people have said to "let nature take its course" and let the ducks die off. But Litz said she cannot bear to stand by and watch that happen to ducks who are unable to fly and leave the area like their migratory cousins.

"I don't think starvation is natural," she argued. "The ducks make the noise because they are desperate for food."

Defense attorney David Cunningham argued that people who choose to live on the lake must assume some risks from living near forms of wildlife. He said piles of dead ducks would create an even greater nuisance around the lake.

Somebody needs to feed the ducks, he told jurors, reminding them that other lakeside residents have also been feeding ducks but have not been charged with violating the law.

"The issue is my client's freedom," Cunningham added. "Why should she be punished for doing the right thing?"

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He also said the county's nuisance law was vague and could be interpreted "to ridiculous extremes" any time three or more people disagreed with a person's lifestyle.

The jurors disagreed, returning the conviction after an unusually brief deliberation.

Litz, who turned down a previous offer for a diversion agreement, said it's distressing to have a criminal conviction on her record but added she's happy the judge is seeking some kind of resolution to the problem.

"It's worth it to me," she added, "especially if he finds a solution."

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