The Latest: NYU student gets 45 days in jail for bird deaths

HONOLULU – The Latest on sentencing for slaughtering seabirds at a Hawaii nature reserve (all times local):

4:20 p.m.

A New York University student who graduated from the prestigious Honolulu prep school attended by former President Barack Obama is going to jail for 45 days for slaughtering vulnerable seabirds at a Hawaii nature reserve.

State sheriffs handcuffed Christian Gutierrez and led him away after a judge handed down the sentence Thursday.

Gutierrez and a group of buddies from Punahou (Poo-nah-hoh) School were camping at Oahu’s westernmost tip in 2015 when prosecutors say the youths killed at least 15 Laysan albatrosses.

According to prosecutors, the birds were bludgeoned with a bat and machete and shot at with a pellet gun. At least 11 eggs were smashed.

Gutierrez must also pay about $1,000 for his share of restitution for monitoring equipment that was stolen. He must also serve 200 hours of community service.

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10:25 p.m.

A college student who graduated from the prestigious Honolulu prep school attended by former President Barack Obama is facing sentencing Thursday for slaughtering vulnerable seabirds at a Hawaii nature reserve.

Christian Gutierrez and a group of Punahou (Poo-nah-hoh) School buddies were camping at Oahu’s westernmost tip in 2015 when prosecutors say the youths killed more than a dozen Laysan albatrosses.

According to prosecutors, the birds were bludgeoned with a bat and machete and shot at with a pellet gun. At least 11 eggs were smashed.

Gutierrez pleaded no contest to animal cruelty and other charges.

Prosecutors recommend a one-year jail sentence. His defence attorney is asking a judge to grant a deferral, which would allow Gutierrez to avoid a conviction if he stays out of trouble for a specified amount of time.