Man pleads guilty to killing Bald Eagle in Stanton County
A suspect alleged to having killed a bald eagle in Stanton has pleaded guilty, while a second suspect is still at large.
By News Channel NebraskaSTANTON, Neb. -- The Stanton County Sheriff's Office says one man has pleaded guilty to his part in killing a bald eagle.
20-year-old Domingo Zetino-Hernandez, a Honduran national, pleaded guilty to federal charges last week.
Zetino-Hernandez pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act violation in U.S. District Court.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 4 and is facing up to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The incident happened in March this year, making national news.
The Stanton County Sheriff's Office said they had responded to a suspicious vehicle call, where they met two Honduran nationals.
Zetino-Hernandez and 20-year-old Ramiro Hernandez-Tzquin were allegedly found to have killed a bald eagle with a high-powered air rifle. Initial reports indicated neither spoke English and were unaware they had killed the United States national bird.
Zetino-Hernandez, the alleged shooter, was arrested on a federal arrest warrant.
Hernandez-Tzquin has allegedly fled the area and is being sought on a federal arrest warrant.
The Stanton County Sheriff's Office said both suspects are believed to have illegally entered the country and could face deportation.