A Canadian tourist was found guilty Monday of animal cruelty after he carried a flamingo from its habitat at a Las Vegas casino to his hotel room during an all-night bender, prosecutors said.
Mitchell Fairbarn, 34, took the Chilean flamingo, named Peachy, from the wildlife habitat at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in March. Surveillance video shown at trial captured a smiling Fairbarn carrying the bird by the neck into an elevator. He testified he had drunk 30 to 40 beers that night and thought taking the bird would be "funny," insisting he never meant to hurt it.
Animal experts testified that Peachy suffered torn feathers and blood loss. A veterinarian for the state said the bird has largely recovered physically but is now more anxious around people.
He should not have done that, should not have gone into the habitat, shouldn't have touched a bird, shouldn't have taken Peachy inside. The truth is, Mitch was drunk. Mitch was stupid. He made bad decisions.
Josh Tomsheck, Fairbarn's attorney
The jury heard from 14 witnesses and reviewed more than 112 pieces of evidence before convicting Fairbarn on felony and misdemeanor animal-abuse charges after about five hours of deliberation. He faces up to nearly five years in prison at a sentencing hearing set for December and remains on house arrest in Las Vegas, unable to leave the country since his arrest. His lawyer said Fairbarn has received death threats since the case became public.
