Texas man given probation for buying poached Flathead eagle parts

A Texas man was sentenced to five years of probation Tuesday morning for buying multiple hawk and eagle parts that were poached on the Flathead Reservation.

John Butler, 71, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit a crime, two counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles, and one count of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits the sale and transport of illegally hunted animals.

According to charging documents, the co-defendants, Travis Branson and Simon Paul, hunted and killed about 3,600 eagles on the Flathead Reservation and other places around the country. They then sold the eagle parts, including feet and feathers, to buyers including Butler. Butler paid Branson and Paul via PayPal and was sent the eagle parts via the mail to his home in Humble, Texas.

On Tuesday morning, Butler appeared for sentencing before Judge Dana Christensen in Missoula’s federal court.

Christensen previously sentenced Branson to almost four years in prison for his role in the poaching scheme. Paul fled to Canada, where he now faces further poaching charges.

“John Butler is a 71-year-old man who has never stood in court in his life,” Butler’s lawyer, Matthew McKeon, argued. “Butler’s offense level is a fraction of Branson, and his sentence should reflect that too.”

McKeon also pointed out that Butler suffers from many health conditions that prisons might not be equipped to handle, and that recidivism rates are low among offenders over 70.

“John Butler made a serious mistake,” McKeon said. “But the man before you is not a predator. He’s not a danger to anyone.”

Butler also gave a statement to the court.

“I have brought shame to myself and my family,” Butler said. “I am very sorry for this, and this will not happen again.”

McKeon requested a probationary sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Clark, arguing for the prosecution, said a prison sentence was necessary for general deterrence, requesting eight months in prison and a $100,000 fine.

“The messages show that Mr. Butler was aware that Mr. Branson was shooting and killing these eagles,” Clark said. “Without the buyer, there wouldn’t be the killing, because there wouldn’t be a reason.”

Clark said that deterrence is necessary in wildlife poaching crimes.

“The message we need to send to the public is that these crimes will not be tolerated,” Clark said.

Christensen said he agreed with Clark that the offense conduct was serious and poaching crimes are enabled by those who buy the poached wildlife, but he also considered Butler’s serious health issues and the fact that he hadn’t caused any problems while out of custody pending sentencing. Butler also has no criminal history, Christensen pointed out, and was less culpable than the other defendants.

Christensen imposed a sentence of five years of probation without any surveillance conditions. He imposed no fine. This is in addition to about $77,000 of restitution Butler must pay to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.