Case Snapshot

Case ID: 104

Classification: Mutilation/Torture, Theft

Animal: bird (pet)

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CONVICTED: Was justice served?

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Case #104 Rating: 2.1 out of 5

Parrot cooked in microwave
Madison, WI (US)

Incident Date: Friday, May 14, 1999
County: Dane

Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 4 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Chad Alvarez

Alvarez, age 23 of 402 W. Dayton St. a University of Wisconsin senior had been charged with animal cruelty and theft for cooking Cory Greenfield's parrot in a microwave oven.

The 1 year old Quaker parrot, named Lago, exploded before the Sigma Chi fraternity brothers could free the bird.

Alvarez is the son of the university football coach Barry Alvarez. Alvarez has been convicted before on charges of first-offense drunken driving.

Alvarez broke into Greenfield's room, removed the parrot from his cage, threw the parrot against a wall, tortured and killed the parrot because he was angry over an e-mail that was sent around the fraternity house at 221 Langdon St.

Lago has a vocabulary of about 20 words, some of which were curse words heard by fraternity brothers.

If convicted Alvarez could face a two-year jail sentence and a maximum fine of $10,000.

In June 1999 Alvarez waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

At Alvarez's July 23rd 1999 hearing, he entered a not guilty plea. Alvarez remained free on a $1000 bond but with the stipulation that he is not to acquire any animals. President Clinton's Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala is among the 100 who have written to Dane County Judge Bill Foust asking for leniency.

On December 10th 1999 a plea agreement was made. Alvarez pleaded no contest to felony charges of intentional mistreatment of an animal resulting in the death and felony theft of a domestic animal. As a result Alvarez will spend 10 days in jail during the holidays as punishment.

References

• APB news
• Madison Newspapers

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