LAWYER BIRD CRIME: SHOOTING (OR, AT LEAST, TORTURING AND/OR KILLING) THE BIRD

HAWK TRAPPING AND KILLING

It is a crime under federal law, in particular the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, to trap and/or kill red-tailed hawks. A wealthy and ashamed South Carolina L confessed with tears in his eyes to doing exactly. This disgraced SOB was (and maybe still is) a trustee of the University of South Carolina and a member of his church, where perhaps he will find a path to appropriate forgiveness for violations of divinely ordained stewardship. 

L received a light sentence, much to the chagrin of the federal prosecutor who wanted a good deal more. The sentence? A year of probation; 50 hours community service at the Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw, a one-year hunting ban, and a $75,000.00 fine. 

Justice was done? With less than an hour a week obviously appropriate community service? Maybe. But one might wonder how many legally protected hawks he abused thusly. 

In any case, let this be a lesson to lawyers who love hunting too much.