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Published Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 | 1:03 p.m.
Updated Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 | 3 p.m.
Eric Cuellar
Justin Teixeira
Map of Wildlife Habitat
Wildlife Habitat
3555 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas
One of the University of California-Berkeley law students charged in conjunction with the death of an exotic bird in October at the Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat has pleaded guilty.
Eric Cuellar, 24, pleaded guilty Thursday in Las Vegas Justice Court to a misdemeanor charge of instigating, engaging in or furthering an act of cruelty to an animal in the death of Turk, a 14-year-old helmeted guinea fowl that had resided at the habitat.
Cuellar’s attorney, Richard Schonfeld, said his client was sentenced to two days in the Clark County Detention Center, ordered to perform 48 hours of community service and undergo alcohol counseling. In addition, Cuellar was fined $200 and ordered to pay $150 restitution to the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat.
The court granted Cuellar credit for jail time already served, so he will not have to report back to the detention center, Schonfeld said.
Asked why his client pleaded guilty, Schonfeld said, “He just wanted to be able to put this behind him.”
Schonfeld also noted Cuellar was charged with a misdemeanor and was not accused of personally harming the bird.
Meanwhile, fellow Cal law student, 24-year-old Justin Teixeira, is scheduled to be arraigned next month in Las Vegas Justice Court on charges he tortured and killed the bird. Frank Coumou, Clark County chief deputy district attorney, said it's possible Cuellar will be called to testify if the case against Teixeira goes to trial.
According to a Metro Police report, a witness told security she saw two men, later identified as Cuellar and Teixeira, walk out of bushes in the habitat with the dead bird named Turk, on the morning of Oct. 12. Teixeira, who was holding the bird, allegedly threw it toward Cuellar and said, "I (expletive) killed wildlife," the report states.
Surveillance video captured a third person with Teixeira and Cuellar following the bird.
Coumou said an ongoing investigation could result in criminal charges against two other individuals.
Teixeira remains been free on bond.
Millions of chickens are killed every year. Once a year, this Country celebrates a day in which millions of turkeys are slaughtered and exotically prepared for consumption.
No justice for these birds?
unlv702, Militant animal rights protesters (ALF) have killed humans....any justice for them??
This guy while obviously dumb wasn't a hardened criminal and it sounds like justice was served.
$200 fine? a speeding ticket is more than that!
This is second rate behavior by students attending a second rate law school. No way on earth would I ever hire a graduate from University of California Berkley law school. This is typical of their law school student body.
@UNLV702, there is a difference between killing an animal for consumption and just doing it for fun.
I have been smashed up drunk and been around others who were smashed up drunk back in my younger days. Never did anyone suggest, "Hey let's go decapitate a defenseless animal".
Besides the obvious cruelty of this act, the disregard for property rights is inexcusable for law students. They knew better, or should have.
Look at the pictures of these two ruffians. They must be real bad guys on the streets. I'd like to see them serve a little time in jail, not years but enough to teach them a lesson. At least they'd stand a better chance for survival than that bird did.