Mistrial Declared in Florida Panther-Killing Case

The federal trial of an Indian chief accused of killing an endangered Florida panther ended in a mistrial Thursday after the jury declared itself deadlocked.

A prosecutor said the government had not decided on its next step, but the defendant, Florida Seminole Chairman James E. Billie, predicted: “They’re going to try it again.”

More than a dozen Seminoles, all in jeans, cowboy boots and colorful shirts, looked on as U.S. District Judge James C. Paine declared the mistrial.

Defense attorney Bruce Rogow said he would have liked to have gotten his client an acquittal. But the jury, divided 7-5 for acquittal, was unable to break the deadlock.

Billie, 43, was accused of violating the U.S. Endangered Species Act by knowingly killing and possessing an endangered Florida panther. The charges carry penalties of up to two years in prison and fines of $20,000.

Although he admitted killing a panther, Billie insisted he was within his rights to continue Indian traditions on Indian land, regardless of the U.S. law.

Billie has led the 1,800-member tribe since 1979 and recently won reelection by a wide margin.

Paine ruled last week that the Seminoles’ sovereign-nation status does not exempt the tribe from federal laws governing endangered species.

Defense attorneys told jurors that it is almost impossible to distinguish the endangered Florida panther from similar subspecies of the cougar.

They and government prosecutors Tuesday called experts who debated whether the cat Billie shot was an endangered Florida panther. Wildlife experts say only about 30 Florida panthers still exist.