Marietta resident pleads guilty to shooting bald eagle

OXFORD, Miss. B Felicia C. Adams, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Luis Santiago, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Chief of Law Enforcement Steve Adcock announced that:

Benjamin Tyler Wallace, 23, of Marietta, Mississippi, pled guilty on February 19th before United States Magistrate Judge David A. Sanders, in Aberdeen, Mississippi, to a one-count Information charging him with shooting a mature bald eagle in violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. § 668, a class A misdemeanor.  Wallace shot and killed the eagle while duck hunting in Itawamba County on December 2, 2012.

Following his guilty plea, Wallace was placed on probation for a period of one year, during which time Wallace will be prohibited from hunting in any manner or being present at any hunting camp or campsite anywhere in the world at any time during any season open to hunting. In lieu of a fine, Wallace was further ordered to forfeit to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks the boat, motor, trailer, and two firearms used in the commission of the offense.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Charge Luis Santiago stated that: “We take our mission working with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and the citizens of Mississippi in conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats very seriously, investigating those who choose to violate state and federal laws.  They undermine the proud tradition of hunting for all hunters.”

This case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Mims.