A 28-year-old West Palm Beach man accused of capturing a protected great horned owl and driving around with it while drinking is now facing charges.
The man had posted a video of himself on Facebook holding an apparently stunned or injured owl while driving in West Palm Beach around 2:00 a.m. on March 16, authorities said.
The man, identified as Stervenson Benjamin, is charged with violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Federal Wildlife Officer William Calvert served the violation notice on Sunday.
If he is convincted, he could face up to six months in jail, up to a $15,000 fine and up to one year of probation or supervised release. Information on a lawyer wasn't immediately available.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida Wildlife Commission jointly investigated, and the case will be handled by federal prosecutors.
