Brothers put on probation

Posted on Dec 07 2006

Two brothers who were convicted of taking endangered birds were sentenced in federal court on Wednesday to one year of probation.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson also ordered defendants Leon H. Lizama and Jesus H. Lizama to pay $25 each in special assessment fee.

The judge required the defendants to prepare a 10-page typewritten, double-spaced report entitled “Importance of Protecting Endangered Species.”

Munson said that, upon his review, the defendants should make arrangements to present the report to three different classes.

The defendants, he said, should inform the U.S. Probation Office as to when the presentations will be made so that the U.S. Probation officer may attend.

According to the indictment, Leon Lizama, 50, and Jesus Lizama, 44, “took endangered species of wildlife—one or more nightingale reed-warblers” between July and August 2005.

The defendants allegedly cleared their lands, including the portion where the nesting of the birds were located.

The Lizamas pleaded guilty.

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