Official: Man killed zoo monkey during theft try
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BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- A 22-year-old man clubbed a monkey to
death with a tree branch, after he was bitten by the animal while trying
to steal it from a Boise zoo, prosecutors allege.
Michael
J. Watkins entered Zoo Boise on Saturday morning, manipulated a lock to
get into the primate enclosure and removed the patas monkey by wrapping
it in his jacket, Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Fafa Alidjani told
reporters after Watkins was arraigned in Boise's 4th District Court.
"He
told police he was going to throw the monkey outside the fence,"
Alidjani said Wednesday. When he failed, the monkey bit him, prompting
Watkins to use a tree branch to bash the monkey in the head and neck,
she said.
A security guard spotted the intruder, who ran, and the animal died a short time after it was found by zoo officials.
Watkins isn't scheduled to enter a plea on his felony burglary and grand theft charges until a preliminary hearing Dec. 5.
If
he's convicted, Watkins faces up to 10 years in prison for the burglary
charge and 14 years in prison for the grand theft charge. Idaho law
allows prosecutors to bring a grand theft charge against someone accused
of killing livestock or other animals valued at more than $150 dollars.
Judge Henry Boomer refused a bid by Watkins' public defender, Gary Reedy, to reduce bail from $150,000 to $10,000.
Alidjani
had argued that the bail shouldn't be reduced because Watkins has a
history of drug and drunken driving arrests and probation violations.
"Say no more," Boomer told her. "I'm denying the request."
Boise
Police Chief Mike Masterson has said he doesn't expect others to be
charged in the case, but Watkins' lawyer suggested to the judge that at
least one other individual entered the zoo with Watkins.
"They
opened a door and the monkey was released," Reedy said, using "they"
repeatedly. "There was a scuffle. The monkey was injured."
Watkins
broke into the zoo after a night of grief-fueled drinking, Reedy said:
An aunt had recently died, and Watkins' grandmother had been diagnosed
with cancer only days before. So he went into Boise for a night out with
friends and family.
"He was taking it very hard," Reedy said. "He became intoxicated."
Watkins,
who over the grainy courthouse video system used for arraignments
appeared to have a bandage on his right hand, spoke clearly when Boomer
questioned him about his ability to pay for an attorney.
He
told the judge he didn't own property or a car and had left a job
working at a Progresso Soup factory in the region about a month ago,
though he was due to begin work at another factory job two days after
the zoo incident.
"I was a general laborer," he said, describing his work at the soup factory. "I bagged onions."
Watkins' girlfriend gave birth to his son about four weeks ago.
Watkins'
stepmother, Susan Watkins, told the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday that he
did well at Fruitland High School before graduating in 2008, even
volunteering to help children in the summer.
"He was a good kid. He's my baby. I love him," she said.
His father, Jerry Watkins, said he can't believe his son entered the zoo wanting to do the monkey harm.
"He's
not a malicious monkey murderer," Watkins said. "I'm thinking the
monkey attacked him and he just tried to defend himself. I don't think
he ever intended to kill it; he's just not that kind of guy."
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
National News..........
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