Tourist who stole flamingos from Las Vegas casino returns to court to tell the story in his own words: ‘something that we could joke about’

Mitchell Fairbarn came to Las Vegas for a work event, but the Canadian tourist was also dealing with difficult news at home. His father had been diagnosed with cancer over Christmas, and Fairbarn said he decided to switch off his phone for the first time in nine years and let loose with friends. By his own estimate, he had consumed between “30 and 40 beers” over a 24-hour period before making a decision that would land him in court, according to 8 News Now.

Fairbarn recently testified in his own defense as jurors heard evidence in his felony animal cruelty case. The charges stem from an earlier incident at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, where surveillance footage allegedly showed him entering the property’s flamingo habitat and taking a bird named Peachy. Fairbarn acknowledged that his actions were stupid, but he disputed the idea that they amounted to a felony.

The Ontario man told jurors that he had been in Las Vegas for a work event at the Con Expo and spent time with friends walking along Las Vegas Boulevard, visiting a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, and exploring the Fremont Street Experience. After turning his phone back on, he made a Snapchat audio call to a work colleague at around 5 a.m. while standing near the flamingo habitat.

He said it was all just for fun

Fairbarn testified that he entered the habitat because he wanted to get closer to the birds. He initially told security that he had grabbed the flamingo to help an “injured animal,” but admitted under questioning from Chief Deputy District Attorney Haley Willming that this explanation was a lie.

Surveillance footage reportedly showed Fairbarn spending around 10 minutes in the habitat while on the work call, with flamingos scattering as he moved around the area. He eventually waded through the water and grabbed Peachy. “I thought it was something that we could joke about for the rest of our lives,” he said.

When defense attorney Josh Tomsheck asked whether he had any malicious intent when he picked up the flamingo, Fairbarn answered no. According to his testimony, the flamingo spent about 15 minutes with him before spending another two to three minutes in the hotel room and being released into the hallway. However, animal control specialists told police that Fairbarn allegedly “pulled the wing out of the bird’s body,” leaving it with injuries. 

Flamingo facilities manager Wyatt Mayhall testified that he eventually found Peachy and used a towel to corner and retrieve the bird. Mayhall said he noticed red spots on the hotel fabric while holding the shaking flamingo. Prosecutors also pointed to blood on a hotel room wall near a mirror where Peachy had been standing.

During questioning, Fairbarn acknowledged that Peachy had been hurt as a result of the incident. The defense, meanwhile, challenged Mayhall’s account of the recovery, noting that the facilities manager had initially gone to the wrong floor while searching for the bird. “You were six floors off,” Tomsheck said. “You’d agree you were operating off of bad information?” he further questioned.

Jurors also submitted questions asking Fairbarn what he would want police to do if someone grabbed an animal belonging to him. He said he would expect authorities to investigate the incident fully. A veterinarian testified that Peachy has since recovered.