VERNON -- An animal rights activist arrested after getting stuck in a bear trap has applied to a state program that could lead to dismissal of the charges.

Albert Kazemian of Vernon allegedly was trying to remove bait from a bear trap in August when his attempt went awry.

Kazemian is charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, resisting arrest, impeding the lawful taking of wildlife and obstruction of a government function, the New Jersey Herald reported.

His attorney, David Nufrio, told NJ Advance Media that Kazemian is seeking admission into the state's Pre-trial Intervention Program, under which charges would be dropped if he stays out of trouble.

"He's probably a good candidate for the program," Nufrio said.

It was Kazemian's second arrest in under a decade stemming from alleged tampering with bear traps.

In July 2008, Kazemian was sentenced to 30 days in jail after pouring human urine near a bear trap that had been set up on a neighbor's property to deter bears from entering the trap. 

The current case involves a bear trap that was set up in the Highland Lakes section of Vernon.

The property owner set the trap after a bear had tried to enter the house, the New Jersey Herald reported. Kazemian asked the resident to remove the trap before allegedly trying to remove the bait, the report said.

After getting snared, he called a friend on his cellphone. His friend freed him, but police arrested Kazemian five days later.

Nufrio said the next hearing in the case is March 20.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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