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Posted by Vincent Lucas on 20:36:52 04/08/10
In Reply to: Re: Bird Trappers Arrested posted by bob Mumford
Well, sometimes they do get more than just a slap on the wrist. Folks may remember the case here in Collier County where several individuals (including some ensigns from the Avian School Command in Pensacola) were caught shooting wild birds protected under the Migratory Bird Act. Here's the latest:
Ensigns indicted in endangered bird shooting
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Mar 25, 2010 13:10:31 EDT
Four ensigns accused of shooting endangered birds at a wildlife area in Florida last year were indicted Wednesday in the Middle District of Florida on federal charges related to the alleged shooting, court records show.
The four officers were charged with a little-known federal law that prohibits taking, killing or possessing migratory birds, a misdemeanor that carries a possible six-month imprisonment, a $15,000 fine, or both.
In February 2009, an officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission heard gunfire coming from private property near Naples and later found dead birds and reported seeing the officers leaving the area.
The officers are Ensigns Joseph Gursky, Mark McClure, Cullen Shaughnessy and Alexander Wilhelm. After their arrest, the four Naval Academy graduates spent part of last year on administrative hold in Pensacola before getting on with their flight training. It was unclear whether they received any non-judicial punishment.
A spokesman for Aviation Schools Command did not immediately return a call for comment on the officers current status.
The local district attorney initially declined to press charges in the case, but the Florida wildlife commission pursued the case in federal court.
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