Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Bald Eagle Eating From Pond

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

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said Allen Thacker, 62, of Smithfield pleaded guilty on Tuesday to unlawful taking of a bald eagle.

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

Thacker faces a maximum punishment of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine when he's sentenced in October.

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

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