Federal prosecutors say that on Thursday, May 14, 2026, Santos Guerrero, 42, of Porter, stood in federal court and pleaded guilty to killing a bald eagle at his home in northeast Harris County. The eagle was shot on Oct. 11, 2024, and later euthanized after veterinarians determined its injuries were too severe to treat. The guilty plea, entered this week, sets up a July sentencing date and triggers federal penalties under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Investigators reviewed video footage that allegedly shows the eagle being shot and falling from a tree, which authorities then matched to a tree on Guerrero’s property, according to Click2Houston. Officials say they later found the wounded bird under a tarp at the home and rushed it to an animal hospital, where it was ultimately euthanized because of the extent of its injuries. U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray accepted Guerrero’s guilty plea and scheduled his sentencing for July 30, 2026, the outlet reports.
A necropsy found "major trauma," including severe wing damage from a bullet, liver fractures, internal bleeding and a broken leg, the Houston Chronicle reported. According to the Chronicle, Texas game wardens were first called to the Porter/New Caney area after a witness reported seeing an eagle shot on Oct. 11, 2024, and the case was later turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Guerrero’s attorney, Luis Baez, described his client as “an upstanding citizen, family man, and self-employed business owner,” the paper notes.
What the law says
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act makes it a federal crime to take, kill, possess, sell or transport bald or golden eagles or their parts without a permit, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Prosecutors say Guerrero faces up to one year in prison and a maximum $100,000 fine when he is sentenced on July 30, 2026, per Click2Houston.
Local context
Bald eagles have made a strong comeback across much of the United States but remain protected under federal law, and Texas now supports a growing nesting population that still draws close scrutiny from wildlife officials. The Houston Chronicle notes roughly 160 breeding pairs in Texas in recent counts, a reminder of why authorities aggressively pursue cases involving the alleged killing of these birds.
Sentencing in Guerrero’s case is scheduled for July 30, 2026, when the judge will weigh his guilty plea, the evidence on record and federal guidelines before deciding his punishment.
