Third person charged in death of bird at Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat

Clark County prosecutors have charged a third University of California, Berkeley law student in connection with the October beheading of an exotic bird on the Strip.

Hazhir Kargaran, 26, pleaded no contest Wednesday to three misdemeanors for his role in the incident and promptly surrendered to the Clark County Detention Center, where he will serve a two-day sentence.

District Attorney Steve Wolfson praised the two prosecutors, Frank Coumou and Hilary Heap, whose efforts led the identification of the third suspect.

“I’m very proud of the work of my two prosecutors in this case,” Wolfson said.

Las Vegas police arrested two law students, Justin Teixeira and Eric Cuellar, after the Oct. 12 incident.

Coumou said prosecutors learned Cuellar had used his cellphone to record the “horseplay” that preceded the bird’s death, and prosecutors used the video to identify two other potential suspects, including Kargaran. The video has not been made public.

During their investigation, Coumou and Heap traveled to the U.C. Berkeley campus.

“We definitely took this case very seriously,” Coumou said.

Coumou said they determined that the fourth person “was not really involved in the horseplay.” The prosecutor said no one else will be charged in the case.

Kargaran pleaded no contest Wednesday to instigating an act of cruelty to an animal, malicious destruction of property and trespassing.

“Although we don’t feel he ever touched the bird, he certainly encouraged the principal — Mr. Teixeira,” Wolfson said.

Teixeira, who is awaiting trial on felony charges in the case, is accused of decapitating Turk, a 14-year-old helmeted guinea fowl at the Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat.

“This type of conduct will not be tolerated,” Wolfson said.

He described Turk as a “very well-loved part of the family over at the Flamingo” who is missed dearly by wildlife curators at the resort and by tourists.

“There were tourists who came back year after year just to see Turk,” Wolfson said.

Justice of the Peace Eric Goodman accepted Kargaran’s pleas and imposed his sentence.

In addition to serving two days in jail, Kargaran must pay a $1,000 fine, perform 48 hours of community service, and complete alcohol awareness counseling. He also must help pay $150 in restitution to the Flamingo Las Vegas.

Although prosecutors have identified him as Kargaran, he was booked under the last name Kargaram.

The defendant’s attorney, Josh Tomsheck, could not be reached for comment.

The names of Kargaran and Teixeira appeared in the program for the May 11 commencement ceremony for U.C. Berkeley law students. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder delivered the commencement speech.

Cuellar pleaded guilty in February to the misdemeanor charge of instigating an act of cruelty to an animal. He already had served two days in jail.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.