TO: Supervisory Attorney Bennardo

FROM: Law Clerk Puruda Kothari

DATE: September 18, 2015
RE: Alomar matter, 15-216, Knowing taking of endangered gray wolf
Andy Alomar committed a knowing taking of the gray wolf. It is unlawful for any
person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to take any endangered
species of fish or wildlife within the United States or territorial seas of the United
States.
1538. Prohibited acts, 16 U.S.C.A. 1538 (a)(1) (2015).
Furthermore, a person who knowingly commits a violation of 1538 shall, upon
conviction can with be fined for no more $50,000, or imprisoned for not more than
one year, or both.
1540. Penalties and enforcement, 16 U.S.C.A. 1540 (b)(1) (2015).
The grey wolf shot by Andy Alomar was an endangered species. Andy Alomar was
not aware of the fact that he was shooting an animal of the endangered species.
However, his act of shooting an animal was intentional in itself. Hence, he
committed this act taking an animal knowingly which is a clear violation of 1538
and 1540. Therefore, Andy Alomar committed a knowing taking of the grey wolf.

Andy Alomar committed the act of taking the grey wolf. Thetermtake means
toharass,harm,pursue,hunt,shoot,wound,kill,trap,capture,orcollect,orto
attempttoengageinanysuchconduct.
1532.Definitions,16 U.S.C.A. 1532 (19) (2015).
Andy Alomar shot the grey wolf, wounding it in the process that ultimately
resulted in its demise. Hence, he committed the act of taking.

Andy Alomar knowingly shot the grey wolf. Knowingly isanelementofthe

offenseofviolatingaregulationpertainingtoanythreatenedspeciesoffishor
wildlife.EndangeredSpeciesActof1973, 9(a)(1)(G),11(b)(1),16U.S.C.A.
1538(a)(1)(G),1540(b)(1).
UnitedStatesv.St.Onge,676F.Supp.1044(D.Mont.1988).
LookingattheSt.Ongeprecedent,itcanbeseenthatgiventheregulatorynature
oftheAct,anditsbroadpurposestoprotectthelistedspecies,thegovernment
cannotberequiredtoprovethathehadthespecificintenttotakeanendangered
species.Thecriticalissueisnotwhatthedefendantwasshootingbutwhetherthe
actwasdoneknowingly.
Id.at1045(citingUnitedStatesv.Billie,667F.Supp.1485,149293(S.D.

Fla.1987)).
ThesamescienterelementcanbeappliedtotheactofAndyAlomarsknowingly
takingofthegreywolf.AndyAlomarcouldonlyclaimaccidentormistakeifhe
didnotintendtodischargehisfirearm,ortheweaponmalfunctioned,orsimilar
circumstancesoccurred.Id.Hisnotbeingawareoftheanimalbeingagreywolf,
anendangeredspecieshasnobearingonthefactthatheintentionallyshotan
animal,knowingfullywellwhathewasdoing.Thus,AndyAlomarknowingly
committedtheactofshootingthegreywolf.