United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Howes, South Dakota, man has been charged with a federal offense of Unlawful Taking of Bald Eagle by an Information filed on April 11, 2014.
Cody M. Weyer, age 42, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on May 2, 2014, and pled not guilty to the charge.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is one year of imprisonment and/or a $100,000 fine, one year of supervised release and an additional year of supervised release upon revocation, and a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Information alleges that Weyer, between Jan. 1, 2014, and Jan. 21, 2014, without permission to do so, knowingly killed a bald eagle.
The charge is merely an accusation and Weyer is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Weyer was released on bond pending trial which has been set for July 8, 2014.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
