California IN BRIEF : KING CITY : Jury Selection Slow in Lion Hunt Case

Jury selection moved slowly in the trial of a Monterey County couple charged with illegally importing exotic cats for a commercial hunting enterprise on their sprawling ranch. Floyd and Dawn Patterson were arrested in April for allegedly charging hunters a fee to kill tigers, lions and jaguars, including some old and toothless animals that refused to budge from their cages, where they were shot. In a 49-count indictment, investigators accused the Pattersons of charging hunters $3,500 to kill the wild cats, get pictures taken with the dead animals and then take them home after they were stuffed. The prosecution and defense have had a difficult time impaneling a jury. Only about 8,000 people live in King City, and many prospective jurors were dismissed after saying they knew the Pattersons well enough to possibly be biased.