Man Who Shot Ostrich After It Embarrassed Him In Front Of Women Released From Jail

[matcom]

<snip>

A Half Moon Bay man who shot an ostrich to death after the flightless bird pummeled him and his friend when they trespassed on a coastal ranch was ordered released Thursday after serving five months in jail for animal abuse.

Jonathon Porter, 20 -- who prosecutors say killed for revenge after the bird humiliated him in front of women he was trying to impress -- was sentenced Thursday by Judge John Grandsaert, in effect, to time served. He was also placed on probation and ordered to attend animal-cruelty counseling.

Porter pleaded no contest in February to felony animal abuse for killing the ostrich, named Gaylord, and for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was on probation for grand theft.

Porter and his friend Timothy McKevitt, 19, also of Half Moon Bay, got in trouble after they took some women to an ostrich ranch near Half Moon Bay after a party last Halloween, authorities said.

"Apparently the young ladies expressed an interest in seeing the ostriches," Porter's attorney, James McNair Thompson, said after Thursday's hearing in San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City. "That all sounded like a good idea until the ostrich physically attacked (McKevitt and Porter), and apparently he got the better of them."

With their long necks, adult male ostriches can grown up to 9 feet tall and weigh between 220 to 287 pounds, according to the San Diego Zoo. The birds typically have a 4-inch claw on each foot, and can produce a kick powerful enough to kill a lion, according to information on the zoo's Web site.

Gaylord kicked McKevitt in the ribs and knocked him to the ground, according to a police report. Porter suffered scrapes and bruises when the ostrich kicked him.

"And at that point, the crucial thing happened," Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. "Apparently the girls started laughing."

Porter and McKevitt drove away with the women, then allegedly armed themselves with a rifle and shotgun.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/30/BAG4NOUOVA1.DTL

[LSK]

1. THEY RELEASED HIM1?!?!?!?!?!?

Shit, now Im scared!!!!

:scared:








:rofl:

[RedStateShame]

2. You'd imagine an ostrich named Gaylord has to be good at fighting...

You know, like a boy named Sue.

[BarenakedLady]

3. Idiot

Gah. I'm glad the ostrich beat the shit out of him. Poor ostrich. I can't believe they let him out that soon.

[Flaxbee]

4. I was thinking of this kind of thing yesterday... how there are so

many insecure, stupid people out there with severe mental problems who beat or kill animals or anyone helpless because said stupid person blames the animal (or person) for his/her problems.

Why are humans so f*cked up? Why?

[skygazer]

5. He was trying to impress girls by wrestling with an ostrich?

Yeah, that would impress me. :eyes: