Troy, one-half of the duo Montgomery Gentry, admitted in a Minnesota court on Nov. 27 that he shot and killed a domesticated bear in a penned area and then registered the bear as having been shot in the wild. He agreed to pay a $15,000 fine and forfeit all hunting and fishing privileges in Minnesota for the next five years. In the opening of his statement to Country Weekly, Troy says, “I would like to thank all the readers of Country Weekly for their support and patience during this trying time.” Troy also apologizes to all country music fans for the incident.

You can read more of Troy’s exclusive statement and apology in the Jan. 1, 2007, issue of Country Weekly, on sale December 18.

[Photo by Randi Radcliff]