Alain Arbez had no idea unloading an old family keepsake would ruffle so many feathers.
That's what happens when you try to sell an endangered bird, even one that's been dead and stuffed for more than 40 years.
Arbez, 54, pleaded guilty to selling a bald eagle without a permit, an offence under Manitoba's Wildlife Act.
Arbez came to the attention of Manitoba Conservation officials in September after placing a classified ad offering a bald eagle mount for sale.
Court heard that he had tried selling the stuffed eagle - which had previously belonged to his father - at a garage sale, but had no takers.
An undercover Conservation officer arranged a meeting with Arbez last October and purchased the eagle for $200.
Arbez "wasn't aware it was wrong to sell this item," said defence lawyer Michael Green.
"He had nothing to do with the demise of this bird. It had been sitting around in his family for 40 years and he just wanted to get rid of it."
The maximum fine for the offence is $10,000. The judge said the unusual circumstances justified a reprimand, a $200 fine and forfeiture of the bird.
And where has the eagle landed?
"I imagine it will be in a Conservation office somewhere in the province," Crown attorney Sean Brennan told court.
Manitoba man convicted, fined, for trying to sell 40-year-old stuffed eagle
-
Published on
October 25, 2008
- Published on July 1, 2010
-
The Canadian Press ~ The News
- Rate
- Top of the page
Comments
-
- W
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:50:35
A PROTECTED species that not too long ago was endangered. A $200 fine, not a bad penalty seeings how a Ferryland Butcher got jail time and a $10 000 fine for selling uncooked (if it was cooked he woulda been OK) moose meat and you can't drive across the island without seeing a couple of moose.
-
- holy cow
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:47:27
I imagine it will be in a Conservation office somewhere in the province, Crown attorney Sean Brennan told court.
This should have never gotten as far as it did ...... the fine I feel was just to cover court costs .....Complete BS. His lawyer is most probably right -- the spoils of law enforcement ... -
- W
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:33:26
A PROTECTED species that not too long ago was endangered. A $200 fine, not a bad penalty seeings how a Ferryland Butcher got jail time and a $10 000 fine for selling uncooked (if it was cooked he woulda been OK) moose meat and you can't drive across the island without seeing a couple of moose.
-
- holy cow
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:28:03
I imagine it will be in a Conservation office somewhere in the province, Crown attorney Sean Brennan told court.
This should have never gotten as far as it did ...... the fine I feel was just to cover court costs .....Complete BS. His lawyer is most probably right -- the spoils of law enforcement ...
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
