A Texas man could be facing up to a year behind bars after admitting to fatally shooting an American bald eagle.
Santos Guerrero, 42, who lives in Porter, Texas, pleaded guilty to shooting and causing the death of the bird – a protected species and global symbol of America – at his residence on October 11.
Authorities responded after seeing video of the eagle being shot and falling from a tree, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
They proceeded to Guerrero’s residence and matched the tree to the one seen in the video, the attorney’s office said.
The eagle was alive when they arrived and it was taken to an animal hospital for treatment, but was later euthanized due to the extent of its injuries, the release added.
An examination of the bird’s body later determined that Guerrero’s bullet had caused significant damage to the eagle’s wing and that the impact from the fall also caused liver fractures, internal bleeding and a fractured leg.
Bald eagles are no longer listed as endangered but remain protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
The law prohibits killing, possessing, selling, transporting, exporting or importing any bald or golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest or egg, unless permitted.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray accepted Guerrero’s guilty plea and set his sentencing for July 30.
Guerrero faces up to a year in federal prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.