TULALIP – Both the federal judge and U.S. attorney came down hard Sept. 11 on a Tulalip man who pleaded guilty to clubbing two bald eagles to death.

“The destruction of these eagles is disturbing because they are a symbol of our country and because they are sacred to the tribes of our community,” Chief U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman said in Seattle.

U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes added: “The bald eagle is sacred to our Northwest Tribes and a symbol revered across our country. The wanton clubbing of two of these majestic creatures is wrong and was punished today.”

Shane Moses, 44, was sentenced to 111 days in prison and two years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in May to violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking in “illegal” wildlife, fish and plants.

According to records, Moses was crabbing on Tulalip Bay on Dec. 27, 2013, when he saw two injured bald eagles in the water.  He clubbed both eagles in the head with a gaff, fracturing their skulls.  He put the eagles in a bucket, returned to shore and asked an acquaintance to drive him to a taxidermist’s, where he hoped to be paid for the dead birds.

Tulalip Tribal police became aware the dead eagles were being transported in the truck, made a traffic stop and seized the eagles.  One was dead, the other was suffering and was euthanized.