Man Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty After Attacking Pelican That Stole His Fish

[Amused]

Man Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty After Attacking Pelican That Stole His Fish

A Perris man who stomped on a pelican trying to nab his fish at Newport Pier was sentenced to community service and probation, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Daniel Richard Moreno, 20, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor animal cruelty Tuesday at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. He was sentenced to 20 days in jail but was given the option of serving his time with Caltrans.

Moreno was given credit for time served after his arrest for the incident in March. He has 12 days left to serve and can either do it behind bars or with Caltrans, which could require him picking up trash on the side of the freeway in an orange vest, officials said.

On March 14, Moreno was fishing off the Newport Pier when a pelican swooped down from a nearby building and tried to grab one of his catch.

Moreno stomped on the pelican's beak, giving the protected species a 33- to 36-centimeter hairline fracture and drawing blood. Animal experts said the injury could have been life threatening because pelicans dive beak-first into the water from upward of 60 feet in the air.

Moreno left the area after attacking the bird but witnesses pointed him out to police who arrested him.

He is scheduled to appear before a judge in March to verify that he completed his sentence. He was also given three years of informal probation.

 

[zinfamous]

umm, good. i think.


yeah, good

 

[joesmoke]

sounds like that bird really ruffled his feathers, but at least he took a step in the right direction

 

[her209]

2 predators 1 fish?

 

[disappoint]

Send him to Pelican Bay?

 

[IronWing]

Me and my big mouth!

 

[shortylickens]

The pelican had it coming.

 

[Balt]

It would have gone for his cell phone next.

 

[Wyndru]

It would have gone for his cell phone next.

 

[child of wonder]

So taxpayers need to pay for him to be in jail 20 days because he kicked a pelican?

 

[cKGunslinger]

It would have gone for his cell phone next.

:awe:

 

[Ika]

sucks for that guy. this is stuff that goes on his permanent record, right?

 

[rasczak]

It would have gone for his cell phone next.

good lord they are horrible.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Attack a pelican that takes your fish and your going to the pokey.

 

[eits]

sounds like the punishment fits the crime. the guy broke the beak of a pelican for doing what pelicans do...

20 days in jail sounds fair to me.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Fuck that. Humans have property rights, birds don't.

 

[eits]

Fuck that. Humans have property rights, birds don't.

um, it's a fish. there's plenty of them. the bird was doing what it does. the dude had no right to kick its ass... especially since it's a protected bird.

 

[Hacp]

Going to jail for attacking a bird? He's got to be at the bottom of the pecking order in the cell.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

um, it's a fish. there's plenty of them. the bird was doing what it does. the dude had no right to kick its ass... especially since it's a protected bird.

How do you know the man wasn't just feeding his babies?

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

How do you know the man wasn't just feeding his babies?

Survival of the fittest, if couldn't outwit a bird, maybe he deserves to starve.:biggrin:

 

[Lifted]

If a person tried to steal his fish, and he kicked him in the face and broke his nose, the "thief" would be arrested.

Pelicans > Humans according the THE LAW.

Actually, makes sense since Property > Humans according THE LAW as well.

 

[eits]

How do you know the man wasn't just feeding his babies?

he could have caught another fish and protected it better. if you can't outsmart a bird trying to take your fish, you don't deserve the fish. go to the store and buy one.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

If a person tried to steal his fish, and he kicked him in the face and broke his nose, the "thief" would be arrested.

Pelicans > Humans according the THE LAW.

Actually, makes sense since Property > Humans according THE LAW as well.

Sorry, I don't think that the bird was "stealng". He was following his natural instincts.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

If a person tried to steal his fish, and he kicked him in the face and broke his nose, the "thief" would be arrested.

Pelicans > Humans according the THE LAW.

Exactly what I'm getting at.

Sorry, I don't think that the bird was "stealng". He was following his natural instincts.

So does a rapist when he gets the urge late at night.

 

[Lifted]

Sorry, I don't think that the bird was "stealng". He was following his natural instincts.

Is that a new defense? Would be good for rapists, thieves, murderers...

Nobody is above the law my friend, not even big ugly birds.