Date: 08-24-2023

Case Style:

United States of America v. Christopher Lane Shackelford

Case Number:

Judge: Barry A. Bryant

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas (Union County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in El Dorado

Defendant's Attorney:

Description: El Dorado, Arkansas criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with one count of Aiding and Abetting in the Taking of a Bald Eagle.

On January 16, 2022, Officers with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission were dispatched to Lake Columbia, which is within the Western District of Arkansas, El Dorado Division. Upon arrival, officers made contact with a witness who advised that he was duck hunting with his children when he observed a Bald Eagle fly over their location. The witness observed a subject shoot the Bald Eagle. The witness then observed a subject go out and retrieve the bird from the water. Shortly thereafter, officers made contact with Christopher Lane Shackelford, age 20. Shackelford initially denied shooting the Bald Eagle, but later confessed to the officers.

Bald Eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The violations of these statutes can carry maximum criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and/or two years in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney’s David Harris, Bryan Achorn and Graham Jones prosecuted the case.

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 24 months in prison, with last 60 days to be served in home detention and was ordered to pay $2,025 dollars in restitution.

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Kent Morlan, Esq.
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