L.A. man who gave alcohol to hawk sentenced for animal cruelty
#animal cruelty #Cooper's hawk #wildlife protection #alcohol to animal #legal sentencing #Los Angeles #California wildlife laws
📌 Key Takeaways
- Cesar Gustavo Diaz received 45 days in jail and a year of probation for giving alcohol to a protected hawk.
- The investigation was prompted by public reports of a video showing the animal cruelty.
- Diaz pleaded no contest to animal cruelty charges, with a second charge being dismissed.
- The Cooper's hawk is protected under both federal and California wildlife protection laws.
📖 Full Retelling
Cesar Gustavo Diaz, a 25-year-old Los Angeles man, was sentenced to 45 days in jail and a year of probation on Thursday after video evidence showed him giving a sip of alcohol to a protected juvenile Cooper's hawk at Amelia Mayberry Park in South Whittier, California, an act that violated both federal and state wildlife protection laws. The sentencing follows an investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Special Operations Unit, which launched the probe after concerned members of the public reported the disturbing video. According to court records, Diaz pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty, while a second charge of capturing or possessing a bird or mammal was dismissed. The video, which surfaced on June 15, 2025, showed the juvenile raptor sipping from what appeared to be a BuzzBallz ready-to-drink cocktail in its distinctive green, spherical container. During their investigation, authorities conducted five judge-approved searches with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and its Operation Safe Streets unit. When investigators were prepared to arrest Diaz, they found him already in custody on unrelated charges, at which point he admitted to having released the hawk. Diaz has already served 44 of his 45-day sentence, with the final day credited to good behavior, according to court records.
🏷️ Themes
Animal cruelty, Wildlife protection, Legal consequences
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Original Source
L.A. man who gave alcohol to hawk sentenced for animal cruelty Cesar Gustavo Diaz was captured on video giving the juvenile Cooper's hawk, protected under federal and California law, a sip of an alcoholic beverage. Share Add NBC News to Google Feb. 25, 2026, 1:09 AM EST By Dennis Romero Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 A Los Angeles man was sentenced to 45 days in jail and a year of probation after video showed him giving a protected juvenile hawk a sip of alcohol at a park. L.A. city resident Cesar Gustavo Diaz, 25, was sentenced by a judge on Thursday after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty, court records show. A second misdemeanor charge, capturing or possessing a bird or mammal, was dismissed. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced last week's sentencing on Tuesday, saying that its Special Operations Unit investigated Diaz after concerned members of the public pointed out the video. The video involved a juvenile Cooper's hawk — protected under federal and California law — being given a taste of alcohol at Amelia Mayberry Park in South Whittier, a city about 16 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, on June 15, according to the department and court records. Images provided by the Department of Fish and Wildlife show the raptor sipping from what appears to be a BuzzBallz ready-to-drink cocktail in its green, spherical container. Investigators conducted five, judge-approved searches and focused on Diaz with the help of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and its Operation Safe Streets unit, the Department of Fish and Wildlife said. When investigators were ready to arrest Diaz, he was found in custody on unrelated charges, the department said, and told investigators he had released the hawk. According to court records, Diaz served 44 of his 45 days ahead of sentencing, partly with the help of credit for good behavior. Two public defenders were assigned to Diaz’s case. Their office did not ...
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