A Montgomery County man who shot a bald eagle in his backyard, then tried to hide the injured bird and mislead investigators, has been sentenced in federal court to 14 days in prison and a $5,000 fine. The case, first reported by the source post, shows how fast a “backyard problem” can turn into a federal wildlife case in Texas.
The man, Santos Guerrero, 43, of Porter, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2026, to shooting and causing the death of a protected species. U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray handed down the sentence, and Guerrero—who has remained out on bond—will voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility later.
A citizen report is what brought game wardens to the property
The incident dates back to October 11, 2024, when a concerned citizen reported seeing a bald eagle shot while it was perched in a tree in Guerrero’s backyard. That call mattered. It’s the reason Texas Game Wardens showed up, and it’s what set the investigation in motion.
When wardens searched the property, they ultimately found the bird critically injured and hidden under a tarp in Guerrero’s garage. That detail alone tells you this wasn’t treated like an accident or a misunderstanding—investigators were now looking at a situation where someone appeared to be trying to keep the bird (and what happened to it) out of sight.
Investigators say he lied, but video filled in the gaps
According to federal prosecutors and court documents summarized in the report, Guerrero initially lied to authorities about what had happened. In plenty of everyday disputes—property damage, loose dogs, even a fence argument—people think they can talk their way out of trouble. Wildlife cases don’t work that way, especially when evidence is available…