Justin Teixera a graduate of University of California, Berkeley School of Law, was sentenced to a six-month boot camp regiment at High Desert State Prison in Nevada, after his guilty plea in Clark County District Court for killing another person’s animal. On October 12, 2012, Teixeria and two other classmates, while visiting Las Vegas snuck into the Flamingo’s Wildlife Habitat after hours, and while allegedly under the influence of alcohol killed “Turk”, a 14-year-old helmeted guinea fowl.
Boot camp is a program similar to a military lifestyle, which its’ purpose is to emphasize discipline and life skills to its’ members and hopefully get them back on the right track. If Teixera graduates from boot camp he will be eligible for probation which would last no more than three years and if successful the charge would be reduced from a felony to a gross misdemeanor, but if he fails he is facing 1-4 years in prison. His classmates who joined him that evening have already reached plea deals and resolved their cases.
Obviously, the felony criminal offense of “killing an animal of another” was not created for this type of bizarre set of circumstances. Typically, these charges are brought if two people get into an argument and the other decides as revenge to kill the other’s dog. Or if rangers or farmers steal and kill another’s animal for profit. But, the language in the statute certainly covers the illegal acts Mr. Teixera committed on that evening. Generally, boot camp can be a positive alternative to jail or prison for certain offenders, especially defendants who are young and new to the criminal justice system. Boot camp essentially is a one-time chance to prove to the court that you can be a productive member to society on and off probation, and are able to listen to authority and follow directions. Any young offender with the choice of boot camp or prison should jump at the opportunity of boot camp and prove that they are able to change.
Michael A. Troiano, Esq.
Attorney at Law
Source: Las Vegas Sun