California Man Sentenced in Sale of Rare Animal Mounts
 

Calif. man sentenced in sale of rare animal mounts

By Staff and wire report
The Associated Press
Published July 14, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco Bay Area man accused of using Craigslist to sell taxidermy mounts of endangered species, including a Siberian tiger, a polar bear and a black panther, has been sentenced to six months in prison.

Federal prosecutors say James Dickson of Pacifica must turn himself in Aug. 29 to begin serving the sentence, which a judge handed down Tuesday. Dickson previously pleaded guilty to a felony count of illegally trading protected wildlife.

Prosecutors say as part of the plea, Dickson acknowledged selling a mounted bald eagle to an undercover agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for $2,200 in October 2009.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that Dickson's attorney, Barry Portman, asked for leniency, saying his client sold the mounts to support himself.

Authorities didn't say where Dickson got the animals.

Sounds like he got of light.