Canadian Tourist Convicted of Animal Cruelty After Abducting Las Vegas Flamingo
A jury finds a Canadian tourist guilty of animal cruelty for stealing a flamingo from a Las Vegas hotel. He faces up to four years in prison for the act.
POLICY WIRE — Las Vegas, USA — A jury delivered a guilty verdict on Monday against a Canadian man accused of animal cruelty after he snatched a flamingo named Peachy from its habitat at a prominent Las Vegas resort.
Prosecutors successfully argued that Mitchell Fairbarn, a tourist from Ontario, acted with malice when he removed the bird from the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino on March 3. The defense maintained that while the act was foolish and driven by intoxication, the defendant never intended to cause the animal harm.
The jury convicted Fairbarn on both felony and misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. He is currently being held in custody until his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Dec. 1. The felony charge carries a potential sentence of up to four years in prison, while the misdemeanor conviction could add another six months of jail time.
Evidence presented during the trial included video footage showing Fairbarn carrying the bird through a hotel elevator and hallway. Prosecutors highlighted that the bird was subjected to physical pain, noting that feathers were discovered on the floor and that the animal was seen squawking while being handled by its feet.
According to authorities, when security staff and police recovered the flamingo, it was missing seven to eight feathers and sustained injuries to its wings, with blood visible on its plumage. Dr. Tiffany Moore, the medical director of Lone Mountain Animal Hospital, reported that while the 27-year-old Chilean flamingo has physically recovered, it remains more nervous and anxious during evaluations.
Defense attorney Josh Tomsheck characterized his client’s actions as stupid and fueled by alcohol, emphasizing that Fairbarn should never have entered the habitat or touched the bird. However, prosecutor Haley Willming countered that the defendant’s subsequent personal hardships, including death threats and the inability to attend his father’s funeral, were direct consequences of his own choices.
Following the verdict, Nevada animal rights advocate John Waudby praised the outcome as a victory for justice. He expressed hope that the conviction serves as a stern warning to others that animal abuse will not be tolerated in the state.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)