Tourist who stole flamingo from Las Vegas hotel found guilty

Canadian tourist Mitchell Fairbarn, who took a flamingo named Peachy from the habitat of a famous Las Vegas hotel and brought it to his room, was found guilty by a court jury of animal rights violation charges.

Canadian tourist Mitchell Fairbarn was tried on charges of taking Peachy, a 27-year-old Chilean flamingo, from its habitat at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino on March 3 and carrying it to his room. While the prosecution argued that this was a malicious prank, defense attorney Josh Tomsheck stated that his client deeply regretted his poor decisions while intoxicated and had no intention of harming the bird. As a result of approximately five hours of jury deliberations, the tourist from Ontario was convicted of felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.

Security camera footage presented during the trial showed Fairbarn carrying the flamingo in the elevator and hotel hallway, while the bird reacted by squawking. Veterinarian Tiffany Moore reported that following the incident, the flamingo was largely uninjured, but evaluations showed it exhibiting more anxious and nervous behaviors. Authorities reported that blood stains and feather loss were detected at the scene and on the bird. Awaiting his sentencing hearing scheduled for December 1 under house arrest, Fairbarn faces up to four years in prison for the felony charge and up to six months in prison for the misdemeanor charge.