A medicine man from Kewa Pueblo in New Mexico pleaded guilty to killing and possessing a bald eagle but he will be able to take his case to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Martin Aguilar, 47, did not obtain a permit from the federal government to take an eagle. He plans to argue that the process infringes on his religious freedoms, The Albuquerque Journal reported.

Aguilar could seek eagle feathers and eagle parts from the National Eagle Repository. But that process takes several years.

Aguilar faces up to one year in prison if his conviction on a count of unlawfully taking a bald eagle and a count of unlawful possession of a bald eagle stands.

Get the Story:
Kewan Admits Killing Eagle (The Albuquerque Journal 11/18)