A Las Vegas jury found Canadian tourist Mitchell Fairbarn guilty of felony and misdemeanor animal abuse after he took a Chilean flamingo named Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino and brought it to his room, BBC News reported.
What the jury saw
Videos shown at trial depicted Fairbarn in an elevator holding the bird by its neck on the way to his room, according to the BBC. CBS, cited by the BBC, reported jurors heard from 14 witnesses and reviewed more than 112 pieces of evidence before reaching a verdict in about five hours.
Defense: ‘Mitch was drunk’
Testifying in his own defense, Fairbarn, 34, said he had consumed 30 to 40 beers and “never meant to harm” the animal, per the BBC. His attorney, Josh Tomsheck, called the incident a misguided prank fueled by alcohol: “The truth is, Mitch was drunk. Mitch was stupid. He made bad decisions,” he said, as quoted by the BBC. Tomsheck also said Fairbarn had received death threats since his arrest, according to the BBC.
Injuries and recovery
Animal experts testified that Peachy lost feathers and bled as a result of Fairbarn’s actions, BBC News reported. A state veterinarian said the bird has largely recovered but is now more anxious around people, according to the BBC.
What’s next
The BBC reported that Fairbarn faces nearly five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for December. Since his arrest, he has been unable to leave the United States and remains on house arrest in Las Vegas, according to the BBC. The Flamingo Las Vegas wildlife habitat, which is free to visit, includes a flock of Chilean flamingos among other animals, the BBC noted.
