In a turn of events, 91-year-old Robert Garner Gambill of Sparta, North Carolina, has admitted in federal court to the illegal slaying of a bald eagle, an action that defies federal wildlife protections, as announced by U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that Gambill settled on a guilty plea for the charge of unlawfully taking a bald eagle.
Detailing the incident that took place on June 5, Gambill, not holding any permit for such an act, shot the eagle from a perch in a tree near Farmers Fish Camp Road Bridge in Sparta, utilizing a Ruger M77 Mark 2 22-250 rifle, equipped with a Nikon Monarch MR31 4x16-42 scope, after which he left the scene and the deceased bird's body was abandoned on the bank of the New River; this sequence of events leading to Gambill's admittance in court and his conviction. Eyewitnesses and local enforcement aided in the bird's retrieval, and subsequent forensic analysis confirmed the cause of death to be a gunshot wound.
With the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) in place since 1940, the U.S. has sought to shield these creatures from extinction; this legislation strictly prohibits the hunting, possession, or dealing with bald or golden eagles without proper authorization. Gambill, having breached this federal mandate, is facing up to a year in prison and could be subjected to a fine of up to $100,000 or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense, in addition to the agreed-upon fine of $9,500 that he will pay. Though he has been released on bond, his sentencing date remains undecided.
The investigation of the case which led to Gambill's guilty plea was directed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Office of Law Enforcement for the Southeast Region with Special Agent in Charge Douglas Ault overseeing the operation; they received notable support from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office in their efforts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Armstrong of Charlotte is tasked with the prosecution as further proceedings await.
