Steve rescued two eagles Now he's facing criminal charges E action

[Omaha Steve]

Brian J. Towne (LaSalle County State's Attorney): Drop Charges Against Good Samaritan for Rescuing Bald Eagles

Andie Groff
Yorkville, Illinois


We are writing to you today regarding the trial of Mr. Steve Patterson; a man who rescued two bald eagles from a blown down nest in LaSalle County, Illinois in June 2013. We have been following this story since it happened, and have learned that a status hearing will be taking place on October 29, 2014 after last week’s mistrial.

Sir, we come before you not only as wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers, but as constituents and taxpayers in this wonderful state of Illinois. The time, effort and money that has been spent in trying to prosecute this man could be used in so many other ways, such as going after true criminals by prosecuting those who are out to hurt; not those who are trying to help.

It was only after witnessing the eaglets on the ground for several days and seeing them injured that Mr. Patterson decided to take matters into his own hands. Yes, he broke the law, but most states have laws protecting people who rescue injured animals.

The federal Good Samaritan protection law is not available under Illinois law, which makes things very difficult for a person who is only trying to help an injured or suffering animal. The term “take”, as defined by Sec 1.2o of the Illinois Wildlife Code 520 ILCS 5/1.2o, “means hunt, shoot, pursue, lure, kill, destroy, capture, gig or spear, trap or ensnare, harass, or to attempt to do so.” These attributes make it sound like “taking” is done with malicious intent; not with the intent to rescue and help an injured animal. Clearly, Mr. Patterson’s intentions were not malicious. He did not take the eagles home to raise them as pets or attempt to nurse the eagles back to good health; he immediately contacted a professional with a license to do so.

If this man is prosecuted, it will set a precedent for people to turn their backs when they see an animal suffering. Wildlife rehabilitation facilities count on Good Samaritans to be their eyes and ears when they are unable to get to the phones or out to the rescue sites due to being overworked, understaffed, and self-funded for the most part. The world is already a callous and uncaring place with very few people who care for the well being of animals and nature. Every animal deserves a timely rescue, or a humane death, and that's where I believe most people's motives come from...not just for the animal to be saved, but to be relieved if it is in fact injured and/or suffering. We believe that Mr. Patterson’s motive was only to help the eagles.

We ask for your consideration in dropping all charges against Mr. Patterson. Please do not use our tax dollars to pay for a second trial. This county needs money to go into the local economy and to assist with the natural disasters it has faced over the past two years; not another trial for a man who picked up two birds. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sign Andie’s petition: https://www.change.org/p/brian-j-towne-lasalle-county-state-s-attorney-drop-charges-against-good-samaritan-for-rescuing-bald-eagles?alert_id=ctswMRMaAm_r6n8U35p9bhmUglLKWJzUg8i00IjoxbEu%2BAdX8Ub4jE%3D&utm_campaign=162439&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert#

[hobbit709]

1. It's an election year and asshole prosecutors want to look like they're doing something.

Talk about a waste of time, money, and effort.

[Jenoch]

2. WTF?

People in Minnesota bring injured birds such as there to the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota all the time.

[Warpy]

3. There are common sense exemptions for laws like this

and people aren't generally required to watch an animal die slowly in great suffering.

A call to animal control might have gotten him off the hook. Then again, it often takes days for them to show up.

I don't think Illinois is going to find a jury willing to convict this guy. I don't think a grand jury will charge him.

And I hope Mr. Grandstanding DA gets his ass handed to him in the election.

[LisaL]

6. He should get his ass handed to him in the election.

Doesn't he have anything better to do?
There is no crime in IL that he has to go after the guy who saved eagles that fell from the nest?

[Bibliovore]

9. He made several calls first, per the linked recounting

From the petition's linked Facebook recounting of the story:
https://www.facebook.com/events/792616917446331/

"On May 28, 2013, a storm blew through LaSalle County, Illinois and caused damage to an eagle nest which resulted in two eaglets approximately 8 weeks old to fall to the ground. There was significant flooding and other damage throughout the county. My friend Steve Patterson, a wildlife photographer and local resident, came upon the fallen eaglets and noted that they were injured...one was injured severely. He made multiple calls to conservation police and the DNR office with no response.

"On June 1, 2013, four days after making numerous calls, Mr. Patterson retrieved the eaglets from the ground and contacted a wildlife rehabilitation center to inform them of the distressed eaglets. Volunteers from the wildlife center came out within hours and took the eaglets back to their facility. Both eaglets suffered a fractured wing, most likely due to the fall; one of the eagles required surgery to repair the wing. Had Mr. Patterson not rescued these eaglets, they would have faced predation or died from their injuries."

[Warpy]

12. Bald eagles are no longer endangered, as of 2007

It can probably be argued that they're no longer in need of rescue, that a passing coyote or bobcat would have ended the misery rather quickly. A jury is unlikely to buy that.

The DA is an asshole.

However, Patterson would be in real trouble if they ever found an eatle feather in his possession. That's still a Federal charge.

[New Orleans Strong]

13. Work with wild animals for a living -

There is no way this guy did anything wrong. Christ! If you find an injured sea turtle - 6 out of 7 species in US endangered - you have 24 hours to call coast guard/wildlife and fisheries. Bring the turtle on the boat and get it help. Had an eagle for years. One wing shot off. Hunter claimed he thought it was a duck. All was just fine. Honest mistake and all. And look up shot whooping cranes in Louisiana... Please. The work that went into that. Decades. And the hunting out of season fines! Whooping cranes. Tallest birds in North America. Used to be 14 of them. All that work... And kiddie fines.

[Orsino]

4. How the hell is a federal law being nullified in Illinois? n/t

[LisaL]

5. Seriously?

The guy is charged for saving the birds?
WTF?

[hankthecrank]

7. Signed

This is messed up guy was just trying to help out

[Rex]

8. Wow, the DA must be a royal asshole.

Save some protected animals, go to jail. It would be different if he kept them as pets. Very bad state law, cruel and inhuman.

[LisaL]

10. He saved the birds' lives.

And apparently that DA thinks that he must be punished for that.
I really don't think the intent of that law was to punish people for saving animals.

[BlueJazz]

11. The idea that a DA thinks this guy should go to jail is one of the strangest things I've ever heard.

[Rex]

15. Same here, I've never heard of this being done before.

He should be getting a handshake for a job well done...not jail!

[Rex]

14. I've never heard of anyone being punished for saving a protected species.

The DA must be an idiot or wants to make some really bad history for the state. The man took it on himself, at his own person risk, to save those raptors and should get an award...not jail time!

The law was not meant to be used this way imo. Hopefully our signatures will make a difference.