Simon Paul and Travis John Branson were indicted for allegedly gunning down thousands of birds, including eagles protected by federal law, over the course of several years.
A grand jury indicted two men on charges of going on a yearslong “killing spree” of federally protected eagles and selling “this country’s national symbol” on the black market, court documents revealed.
Simon Paul and Travis John Branson were each charged last week with one count of alleged conspiracy and 13 counts of violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Federal prosecutors said they have messages from Branson stating that he was “committing felonies” and “telling buyers he was ‘on a killing spree’ to obtain eagle tail feathers for future sales.”
Branson would travel from Washington state to the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana to meet up with Paul who’d “help kill, transport and ship bald and golden eagles for future sales on the black market,” according to the indictment.
Another day of “prosecutor uses inflammatory words to help newspapers write headlines”. It’s not a “killing spree”, it’s just poaching. They are normal poachers, not serial killers.
Another day of prosecution using the defendant’s words against them. Did you read the article? They literally said that in text messages
It doesn’t really say the context though. And, again, it doesn’t matter if they believe it themselves. I’m not defending them. I’m saying this is no different from other poachers, and describing it as a killing spree when it went on over years is clickbait. Regardless of if they said it or not.
I think you just lack the humility to admit fault
I admit I didn’t read that, but I also think it’s ridiculous that just because they at some point texted that, that it somehow makes it an accurate description.
Accurate or not, it’s useful for the prosecution.
It shows they knew what they were doing was wrong but kept doing it.
Killing one protected animal makes you a poacher, killing THOUSANDS over years for no valid reason certainly counts as serial killer behavior.
Unless you dispute the word ‘killing,’ which I would also be happy to define for you, I’m pretty sure ‘killing spree’ is the correct description