[tn-bird] Re: $$ Value of Red-tailed Hawks and Black Vultures
- From: James Brooks <comeback@xxxxxxxx>
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2002 22:30:07 -0400
Charles P. Nicholson wrote:
>In West TN cotton country, $15,000 each, assuming prosecutors are
>successful. Following is a recent news release from the US Fish and
>Wildlife Service.
>
In 15 years of covering federal courts I've never seen anyone come even
close to getting the maximum fine. As a punishment, this is almost
non-existant. Most crimes committed on federal property, e.g. the
Cherokee National Forest, carry a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison,
$250,000 fine and three years supervised release. Sentencing more
likely comes down to probation, a felony conviction on the record (the
biggie!), and restitution, or maybe a $5,000 fine. This is for such
events as breaking and entering cars - including theft of over $1,000,
or forest arson. The latter, however, carries a heavy burden of
restitution based on time spent fighting the fire, costs, damage
incurred etc.
Too bad that sort of restitution couldn't be applied to destruction of
wildlife, such as all the time spent by officers investigating the case.
It could if the prosecutor chose to press it. Some letters along that
line to the federal attorney general for the Western District of
Tennessee might help. Look under US Govt. in the phone book, call the
AG's office and ask for his name and the mailing address.
We once got jail time for a major environmental polluter in Greeneville
when environmentalists showed up on sentencing day and picketed the
courthouse, an event the overjoyed Asst. US Attorney said he had never
seen before. The photo also made front page.
James Brooks
Jonesborough, TN
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