Yet another animal abuse case, this time by two law students from The University of California-Berkeley, who decided that their frivolous night out on the Las Vegas Strip should include decapitating an innocent 14 year old exotic bird.
The wildlife habitat at the Flamingo Hotel (www.flamingolasvegas.com) is home to some of the most beautiful exotic birds in the world. Visitors escape the strip to enjoy the free walk along waterfalls, streams, and lush plants. Stunning Chilean Flamingos, swans, ducks, goldfish, and turtles, creates a movie-like backdrop to remind us just how beautiful nature is. But a dark fate awaited an innocent Helmeted Guinea Fowl Bird (www.hoglezoo.org) named Turk, who lived in the habitat for almost 14 years until evil cut his life short. Metro Police said the bird's body was found on the walkway, and his head in nearby rocks.
Justin Alexander Teixeira, 24, and Eric Cuellar, 25, both law students, were caught on security videotape chasing the bird into the bushes. A witness identified Justin, and said she saw him laughing and cursing as he threw the dead bird at Eric.
Eric Cuellar, pleaded guilty on Jan. 10 to a misdemeanor instigating an act of cruelty. He was fined $200, must pay $150 in restitution to the Flamingo, serve 48 hours of community service, and enroll in an alcohol counselling class.
Justin Teixeira's attorney, Michael Pariente, appeared in a Las Vegas Court on Monday, Feb. 11, on behalf of his client, and entered a not guilty plea. A hearing was set for April 24 to determine if there is enough evidence to stand trial in state court.
A felony charge for animal abuse and torture in Nevada could each get him up to four years in prison, $5,000 fine, and a misdemeanor that could carry possible time in county jail. Animal Advocates are protesting and hoping for the maximum punishment - a felony conviction could block Justin Teixeira's admission to a state bar and jeopardize his legal career.
Apparantly these two evil blockheads went for a crash course in law, in one of the most "watched by surveillance cities," and chose animal abuse as their subject. Morons.
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