Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Porter Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Bald Eagle

The plea underscores that bald eagles remain federally protected under a law carrying up to a year in prison with fines up to $100,000.

Overview

  • Santos Guerrero, 42, pleaded guilty Thursday, with sentencing set for July 30 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray.
  • Prosecutors say he shot the bird at his Porter, Texas home on Oct. 11, 2024.
  • Investigators reviewed video that showed the eagle being shot and falling, then matched the tree in the footage to one on his property.
  • Officers found the eagle alive at the home, transported it to an animal hospital, and it was euthanized because of the severe injuries.
  • A necropsy reported a bullet-torn wing plus trauma from the fall that caused liver fractures, internal bleeding, and a fractured leg.