The chief executive of one of Seattle's largest software companies pleaded guilty today in a Colorado courtroom to charges of animal cruelty, a plea agreement that could lead to 10 days in jail, two years probation and a fine.

Attachmate Chief Executive Jeff Hawn -- who was accused of organizing a hunt that killed 32 bison on ranch land in Colorado -- pled guilty to what the Rocky Mountain News described as a class 3 felony of criminal mischief and a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals.

The Rocky Mountain News reports that Hawn also agreed to pay $84,000 in restitution to the original owners of the bison; $4,700 to Park County and $70,000 to charitable groups involved in animal protection.

Hawn -- who resides in Austin, Texas and owns the ranch in Colorado where the bison killings occurred -- was originally charged with 34 counts of theft, criminal mischief and aggravated cruelty to animals,

Attachmate representatives were not immediately available to comment.

The case gained national attention in part because it pitted the old and new west, bringing up issues of open range laws.

Attachmate, which merged with its Seattle rival WRQ in 2005, is owned by the private equity frms of Francisco Partners, Golden Gate Capital and Thoma Cressey. In 2006, it purchased NetIQ for $495 million.

Hawn joined WRQ, the predecessor of what is now known as Attachmate, in 2005.

UPDATE: The Denver Post has a detailed story on the guilty plea, including photos from the hearing and comments from the rancher whose bison were killed.

"It's alright," rancher Monte Downare tells the Denver Post. "It's about getting over with it."

UPDATE: A spokeswoman for Attachmate declined to comment on the what she called a personal legal situation for Hawn.