Photo by Karl Schilling at Easter Lake in Des Moines

Eagle at Easter Lake in Des Moines (Photo by Karl Schilling)

A Keokuk County man will serve two months in jail for shooting and possessing a bald eagle. Investigators found that 36-year-old Jason John Thomas of What Cheer saw a bald eagle flying along the river while he was boating in March of 2011. He followed the bird and then captured and killed it after it landed.

Thomas was sentenced to 60 days in prison and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. He will serve one year of probation and be required to perform 80 hours of community service. The judge also barred Thomas from any kind of hunting.