Teen Sentenced To Federal Prison For Stealing Endangered Lemur From A Zoo

A 19-year-old man from Newport Beach, California, was sentenced to three months in federal prison for stealing an endangered lemur from the Santa Ana Zoo. Aquinas Kasbar pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of unlawfully taking an endangered species, for breaking into the zoo's enclosure for lemurs and capuchin monkeys on July 27, 2018. Kasbar used a pair of bolt cutters to cut a hole in the fence and took off with a 32-year-old ring-tailed lemur named Isaac.

A few other animals managed to escape through the hole Kasbar cut in the fence.

After leaving the zoo, Kasbar abandoned Isaac near a hotel in Newport Beach with two notes that said, "Lemur (with tracker)" and "This belongs to the Santa Ana Zoo it was taken last night please bring it to police."

Isaac was returned to the zoo unharmed and the other animals that managed to escape were captured and brought back to their enclosure.

In addition to spending three months behind bars, Kasbar will also have to pay the zoo restitution of $8,486.

Photo: Orange County District Attorney's Office