Man Pleads Guilty To Shooting Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – An Iuka man pleads guilty to killing a bald eagle.

William Branum entered his plea Friday (8/31) in federal court in Aberdeen. Branum is sentenced to one year of probation. Conditions of his plea deal include not being able to hunt for one year, surrendering his 16 gauge shotgun and his hunting license, and paying $1,000 to the Jackson Zoo.

Federal officials say the eagle was shot in the left wing in March of 2011 in Tishomingo Couynty. The bird died in January of an infection despite zoo officials’ efforts to save it.

Bald eagles are protected under federal law.