Sunderland man found guilty of killing eagle
Court Alerts
[##_1L|1182758452.jpg|width="120" height="88" alt=""|_##]The owner of a Sunderland trout hatchery, who pleaded guilty last month to killing herons and ospreys that were feeding at his fish pools, also was convicted on Tuesday of killing a bald eagle. U.S. District Judge Michael Ponsor in a nonjury trial found Michael Zak, 59, guilty of one count of shooting and killing an eagle, and one count of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which provides protection for migratory birds through international cooperation and treaties.
Zak, owner of the Mohawk Trout Hatchery, had pleaded guilty on March 26 to two counts of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and one count of conspiracy.
His attorney, Vincent Bongiorni, said then his client was not willing to accept a guilty plea for the eagle charge.
"There was a factual basis to support those two counts and our claim is that it doesn't support the bald eagle count," he said.
Zak's employee, Timothy Lloyd, 30, of Easthampton, pleaded guilty March 23 to two counts of violating the migratory bird act and one count of conspiracy.
Federal investigators said they found more than 250 great blue heron carcasses, as well as carcasses of ospreys and a bald eagle on hatchery property. Tests showed the birds were killed by gunshots.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents say they staked out the hatchery periodically and saw Zak shoot at a heron with a scoped rifle and Lloyd shoot and kill an osprey.
The men are to be sentenced on June 27. Zak faces up to three years in prison and Lloyd faces up to 18 months.
Related listings
-
Two former TYC employees indicted in sex abuse case
Court Alerts 04/11/2007[##_1L|1273375331.jpg|width="120" height="84" alt=""|_##]Two former administrators at a Texas juvenile prison were arrested Tuesday on 13 charges of improper sexual conduct with six students. Former West Texas State School principal John Paul Hernand...
-
Court Bars Florida CPA from Preparing Tax Returns
Court Alerts 04/11/2007[##_1L|1248271021.jpg|width="170" height="128" alt=""|_##]A federal judge has permanently barred Max Holcher of Naples, Fla., from promoting a scheme he calls "Tax Engineering" and from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Dep...
-
Court: MySpace Postings are Free Speech
Court Alerts 04/10/2007[##_1L|1217537993.jpg|width="130" height="98" alt=""|_##]A judge violated a juvenile's free-speech rights when he placed her on probation for posting an expletive-laden entry on MySpace criticizing a school principal, the Indiana Court of Appeals rul...
New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.