BEAUMONT, Texas – A Lufkin man’s trophy hunt turned into a courtroom confession today as Michael Wayne Scoggin, 38, admitted to the cold-blooded killing of a massive American alligator on the Neches River. The incident, dating back to April 8, 2011, has finally landed Scoggin in the crosshairs of federal justice.
According to court documents, Scoggin unleashed a .22 caliber rifle upon a 13-foot, 800-pound alligator while drifting on the Neches River in Trinity County, Texas. The kill wasn’t about survival; it was about bragging rights. Scoggin and his girlfriend callously towed the carcass downriver, then enlisted a friend to help load the behemoth onto a truck. The evidence? Boastful photos quickly circulated, appearing at a local Academy Sporting Goods store and splashed across the internet – a digital trail that ultimately led to his downfall.
The arrogance didn’t stop there. Scoggin then shelled out $1,542.53 to a Grapeland, Texas taxidermist to preserve the alligator’s skull and hide. He intended to mount a gruesome reminder of his illegal act. However, federal and state law enforcement weren’t impressed. In March 2012, they recovered the skull, hide, and the murder weapon – the .22 rifle – effectively shutting down Scoggin’s macabre project.
Scoggin’s actions weren’t just a violation of good taste, they were a double felony. Texas law strictly prohibits alligator hunting in Trinity County outside of a limited ten-day period in September. Furthermore, shooting an alligator from a boat on public water is illegal. But the stakes were even higher. The American alligator is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, making the taking of one a federal crime.
Today, Michael Wayne Scoggin pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin. He now faces up to one year in federal prison and a hefty $100,000.00 fine. A sentencing date has yet to be determined, but Scoggin’s days of posing with his ill-gotten trophy are over. The case was a joint effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement (Houston), and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Criminal Investigations Division, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte.
This isn’t just about one alligator. It’s a warning to those who think they can flout wildlife laws for personal gain. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to protecting endangered species and will relentlessly pursue those who threaten them. For more information on their work, visit www.fws.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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