Tuesday, August 21, 2012

A man from Rush County, Kan., has pleaded guilty to killing a golden eagle and been sentenced to 50 hours of community service.

Chad L. Irvin, 35, La Crosse, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of taking a golden eagle. In his plea, he admitted he knowingly killed a golden eagle on Jan. 9 near Cedar Bluff Reservoir in Trego County. Irvin was coyote hunting from his truck when he spotted the eagle and shot it twice with a Remington shotgun. He saw the bird fall.

The injured eagle was reported to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism two days later. The bird was taken to the zoo in Great Bend for veterinary care. The bird’s legs were paralyzed by the shot and the animal had to be euthanized.

Irvin has also been sentenced to serve three years on supervised probation during which he cannot hunt, fish, trap, guide or accompany anyone engaged in those activities. He also must pay a $5,000 fine, as well as $3,000 in restitution. He was also ordered to forfeit his shotgun.