Update: Long Beach Aquarium Vandals

[JDog]

This was front page of the Long Beach Press Telegram. Wednesday Feb.16th

The 3, 13 year old boys that got busted after vandalizing the Aquarium got the following sentences.

9 months in juvenile camp for violent offenders
plus 150 hours of community service-cleaning the beach.

The 3 boys admitted to 4 felony counts of animal cruelty and 1 count of vandalism.

They will also get counseling on impulse control and anger managment through a special program for violent offenders.

This stemmed from the November 8th attacks that killed
a Nurse shark,
a Bamboo shark,
a Cow Nosed ray,
and maimed a Zebra shark.

They were charged with vandalism for cutting open shark egg pods.

The 4th boy (14yrs old), that returned the following night with the other 3 boys got 3 months in probation camp.

 

[Nay]

I'm glad it's over and won't be a long drawn out thing.
Here's the email from the aquarium:

Dear Aquarium members,

As a member of the Aquarium of the Pacific, we want you to be among the
first to hear the latest information on the court proceedings involving the
three 13-year-olds that broke into the Aquarium's Shark Lagoon exhibit and
killed several animals last November. We know this has been an especially
difficult experience for many of you, and we appreciate your concerns and
heartfelt sentiments. We expect there will be some media coverage of this
news development, and wanted you to know what information has been shared
with the Aquarium of the Pacific through the District Attorney's office as
well as our official statement in response.

As of February 15 the case involving the three 13-year-olds has been
closed. Each of the young men pled to four counts of felony animal cruelty
(for the three animals killed and one for the zebra shark that was maimed)
and a felony count of attack of vandalism (for the shark eggs destroyed).
All three minors must spend nine months at a long-term camp and attend a
special violent offenders program. When released, they must contribute 150
hours of community service. Each will need to participate in animal
cruelty-type counseling (ANICARE, which teaches humane treatment of
animals). The court also requires that the three individuals pay $5,000
restitution to the Aquarium of the Pacific for the animals lost.
Furthermore, the offenders have been asked to stay away from the Aquarium
of the Pacific unless supervised by an Aquarium staff member.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is thankful that there is now closure to the
terrible acts of animal cruelty that were inflicted on our animals last
year. This has been a difficult time for our staff, members, and so many
people from our community. It is our sincere hope that the sentences given
to the minors that committed these acts will ensure that they understand
the magnitude of their actions, that they never commit such acts on any
living creature again, and that they ultimately become stewards of the
animals that they once hurt.

For the complete history of the incident, please see our news section
online at
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/NEWS_EVENTS/FALL04NEWS/sharkraydeaths.htm

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Aquarium and for your deep
concern for our animals.

Sincerely,

Jerry R. Schubel
President and CEO
Aquarium of the Pacific

 

[MyDiveLog]

I'm glad to hear that they got a significant penalty ... the $$ will definately get their parent's attention and the community service hours will, hopefully, get theirs. Thanks to all the people on ScubaBoard that used the link to e-mail the D.A.

 

[MontereyCADiver]

As a person with particular interest in aquariums, animals, etc., it's a tragic turn of events, and I'm very glad it's winding down.

 

[scottfiji]

As a person with particular interest in aquariums, animals, etc., it's a tragic turn of events, and I'm very glad it's winding down.

I think it was winding down around February 17th. Is there new information that came out today?

 

[MontereyCADiver]

I remember the incident, but I didn't learn of the outcome until I read this post. (Pardon my untimely reply.)

 

[shaxs]

Im not happy with that outcome...... I say give them 500 hours of community service.

 

[JustinW]

what were these kids thinking? I can't imagine anyone in their right mind thinking any of that would be a good idea. What was their motive and what did they hope to accomplish? Or was it just irresponsible teenage behavior with no logical basis?