A man from Tiptonville was recently sentenced to federal prison for the unlawful taking of a bald eagle and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to the Western District of Tennessee U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Citing information presented in court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reports that United States Fish and Wildlife Service Agents and Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Officers received a report of a bald eagle carcass in Tiptonville on March 21, 2021.
Lake County Man Sentenced for Gun Crime and Unlawful Taking of a Bald Eagle Without a Permit https://t.co/5t6CPpElK6
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Upon further investigation involving witness interviews and the execution of search warrants on both Jason Perkins’ home and his father’s home, officers determined that Perkins shot the bald eagle and that he was previously convicted of felony offenses. Officers recovered both a 12-gauge shotgun and .357 handgun possessed by Perkins, according to the report.
Perkins, 44, was sentenced to two years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal prison system, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“The bald eagle has been a symbol of our country since 1782. This defendant, a felon, shot and killed one of these great birds – violating federal law in the process. I appreciate the federal, state, and local partners who worked to bring him to justice,” United States Attorney Kevin Ritz said in a statement.
The American bald eagle has been the national bird of the United States since 1782. Bald Eagles are protected under the National Emblem Act of 1940, which makes it illegal to possess, sell, hunt, or even offer to sell, hunt or possess bald eagles. This includes not only living eagles, but also their feathers, nests, eggs, or body parts.
Bald eagles were once considered endangered, however, the iconic bird of prey was removed from the Endangered Species List in June 2007, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
