In a disturbing incident that has shocked animal advocates, two men have pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for fatally shooting three wild donkeys in Southern California's Mojave Desert. The accused individuals, Christopher James Arnet, 32, of Colorado, and Cameron John Feikema, 36, of California, admitted their involvement in the incident in their plea agreements.

According to the U.S. District Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, Arnet and Feikema drove to a public land area in San Bernardino County in November 2021. Dressed in tactical gear, including helmets with night-vision goggles, and armed with short-barreled AR-style firearms, the men intentionally targeted the wild donkeys.

During the early hours of the morning, at around 1 a.m. local time, the defendants opened fire on the helpless animals. The shooting resulted in the deaths of three donkeys, while another was left paralyzed and endured severe pain before dying. A Bureau of Land Management investigation revealed that both men fired multiple rounds, with Arnet being the one responsible for the shot that paralyzed one of the donkeys.

Authorities later seized the firearms from the homes of Arnet and Feikema. The investigation unveiled that these weapons were unregistered, which violates federal law requirements for firearm registration.

The guilty plea brought forth charges against both individuals. Arnet and Feikema were charged with a felony count of possession of an unregistered firearm, as well as a misdemeanor count of maliciously causing the death of a burro on public lands. As part of their plea agreement, the defendants agreed to forfeit their rifles, night vision goggles, and other gear, including over 4,000 rounds of ammunition.

The two men are scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on July 8. They each face a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison for the firearm charge and one year in prison for the charge of killing the burros.

Burros, or wild donkeys, are protected under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. This federal legislation safeguards these majestic animals from harm and ensures their preservation. Those found guilty of capturing, branding, harassing, or killing wild, free-roaming horses or burros may face significant fines and jail time.

This distressing incident serves as a reminder of the importance of wildlife conservation and the need to protect these vulnerable species from such cruel acts. Conservation organizations and animal advocates are urging stricter enforcement of laws to prevent further harm to these iconic animals in the future.