Virginia: Allen Thacker, 62, tortured a bald eagle to death because he was mad that the bird was taking fish from his pond

VIRGINIA --  A Virginia man has pleaded guilty to killing a bald eagle because he was upset that the bird was taking fish from his pond.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia says in a statement that 62-year-old Allen H. Thacker of Smithfield pleaded guilty Tuesday to [the] unlawful taking torture-death of a bald eagle.

Prosecutors say Thacker admitted in court documents to shooting eagle and then running over it repeatedly with an all-terrain vehicle because he was mad the bird was hunting in a pond on his property. Court documents say the incident happened March 13.

Thacker shot the bird with a Remington .22 caliber rifle. The rifle shot knocked the majestic bird out of the sky. But the adult male eagle, shot through the pelvis and the left wing, was still alive after hitting the ground.

“Though Thacker initially denied it when interviewed by investigators, a witness reported having seen Thacker [driving back and forth] over the live, injured eagle with his all-terrain vehicle,” the statement continued. “In Court records filed with [his] guilty plea, Thacker fully admitted to shooting the bird and running it over with the all-terrain vehicle.”

A necropsy found the eagle died from a blunt force trauma to its skull.

According to court documents, Thacker later told agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “that too much emphasis is placed on bald eagle protection because the birds are a menace and . . . that people with whom he associates feel the same way.”

Thacker pleaded guilty Tuesday in Norfolk federal court to violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. He faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine when he’s sentenced in October.

I guarantee you this POS will not spend one single night in a jail cell. They'll give him probation.

He must also hand over to the government the rifle and $960, or half the value of the ATV, according to a forfeiture order.

Thacker’s attorney did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment.

SOME FACEBOOK COMMENTS

Mc Vero Vargas Troncoso (Veronica Vargas Troncoso) - Wow it's just a freaking bird....

TJ Darby - Its our National Bird and a symbol of the United States

Al Est - "Just a freaking bird."
You're obviously not an American.

Venessa Yvette Lee Estevez - It is illegal to kill them.

Mc Vero Vargas Troncoso - And yeah I am American ...I'm Puertorican...so yeah I'm a citizen have a good day

Al Est - Mc Vero Vargas Troncoso and yet you think the bald eagle is "just a freaking bird." Go figure.

Josue Efrain Caraballo - A citizen but can't recognize the national symbol and that is protected by law. It's common knowledge. I'm Puerto Rican too and knew this. Stop embarrassing our community. Thanks.

L Rocio Piedrahita - Ignorant??

(WSVN - July 14, 2017)