St. Paul duck beheader gets 21 days in workhouse

KSTP-TV

Scott D. Clark, 26.

Last update: March 26, 2008 - 11:21 PM

"Quite simply, he's not psychopathic," psychologist James Alsdurf said Wednesday at a sentencing hearing for Scott D. Clark, who pleaded guilty to killing a duck in the fall at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown St. Paul.

Alsdurf, who testified for the defense, and Charles Rader, a psychologist who testified for the prosecution, agreed that Clark is not a danger to society and said he should get treatment for alcohol abuse.

Ramsey County District Judge Margaret Marrinan ordered Clark to serve 21 days in the workhouse and gave him credit for three days. With time off for good behavior, he'll be out in 11 days, said defense attorney Michael Colich. Clark pleaded guilty Jan. 15 to one count of felony animal cruelty.

The judge also stayed imposition of a two-year prison sentence, fined Clark $1,000 and ordered him to do 80 hours of community service at the Dorothy Day Center and the Union Gospel Mission in downtown St. Paul on a work-release program.

Clark lost his job as a government auditor in Denver after the incident and is losing his CPA certification, Colich said.

Colich said Clark was disappointed he has to go back to jail. He just wants "to go home, to get this behind him, just to go home."

PAT PHEIFER