Three members of the Washington state Makah tribe who were charged with killing a gray whale in the fall have pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In return, prosecutors will recommend probation instead of jail time. The men had originally declined the plea deal because it could have prevented them from participating in legal whale hunting while on probation, but the three pled guilty after that stipulation was dropped. Two other Makah members involved in the whale hunt declined the plea deal and will go to trial as soon as next week.
sources:
