Overview
- The sentence, handed down Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, was 14 days in federal prison and a $5,000 fine ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray.
- Investigators used video showing the eagle being shot and falling from a tree to identify the yard and locate the injured bird hidden under a tarp in Guerrero’s garage.
- Veterinarians euthanized the eagle after intake and a necropsy found a bullet damaged the wing while the fall caused liver fractures, internal bleeding, and a broken leg.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service led the probe with help from Texas Parks and Wildlife and local law enforcement, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.
- The killing violated the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which bars harming eagles and allows fines and prison time, and the case highlights how video forensics and interagency work are used to enforce wildlife protections.