Canadian man convicted after stealing flamingo from famous Las Vegas hotel

By
FOX Local
Published October 19, 2026 9:36 PM CDT

The Flamingo hotel casino on the Las Vegas Strip is seen on March 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

The Brief

    • Mitchell Fairbarn was convicted on animal cruelty charges after stealing a flamingo named Peachy from a hotel exhibit.
    • Prosecutors told jurors Fairbarn injured and frightened the flamingo as he took it to a hotel room.
    • Fairbarn’s defense attorney described his client’s actions as "fueled by drunkenness" and said he deeply regretted his actions.

A jury convicted the Canadian man accused of stealing a flamingo from the iconic casino of the same name and taking the squawking bird back to a hotel room on multiple charges of animal cruelty.

Big picture view:

Prosecutors described the actions by Mitchell Fairbarn on March 3 as a malicious prank and told jurors how the 27-year-old Chilean flamingo called Peachy was hurt and frightened after the defendant swiped the bird from its habitat at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. 

They pointed out that feathers were found on the hotel floor and said Peachy was in pain as Fairbarn pulled the bird by its feet. Video also showed the flamingo squawking as it was being handled, and Fairbarn holding Peachy in an elevator and carrying the bird down a hallway.

The other side:

Fairbarn’s defense attorney, Josh Tomsheck, admitted taking Peachy was "dumb" and "fueled by drunkenness." He went on to tell jurors that his client deeply regretted the "bad decisions" made while intoxicated and did not mean to hurt the flamingo. 

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Las Vegas police previously reported that, when Peachy was found, the bird was missing seven or eight feathers, had blood on its feathers, and suffered injuries to its wings. 

What's next:

Jurors found Fairbarn guilty after five hours of deliberations. He remains under house arrest and has a sentencing hearing set for Dec. 1. The Ontario, Canada, man faces up to four years in prison for the felony animal cruelty count and up to six months more for the misdemeanor one.

Dig deeper:

Veterinarian Tiffany Moore, who is the medical director at Lone Mountain Animal Hospital, said Peachy is doing better now physically but remains nervous and anxious during evaluations. 

The Flamingo is one of the landmark hotels and casinos along the Las Vegas Strip. It is well known for its flamingo habitat as well as the other animals housed on the property, including hummingbirds, turtles, koi and other species.

The Source: Information for this article was taken from the Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.




 

Crime and Public SafetyU.S.