DAILY BREEZE (Torrance, California) 06 April 06 Reggie's 1st owner draws probation for role in gator case - Anthony Brewer will also spend 45 days working for Caltrans after pleading no contest. (Donna Littlejohn)
A San Pedro man was sentenced Wednesday to probation and Caltrans work after pleading no contest to releasing an alligator into Machado Lake last year.
Anthony Brewer, 36, one of two suspects charged with dumping the illegal pet named Reggie into the Harbor City lake, pleaded no contest to a violation of the California Fish and Game Code, according to Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. Brewer also was found to be responsible for restitution to the city, with the amount to be determined later at a hearing.
In exchange for the plea, five other misdemeanor counts filed against Brewer were dismissed.
Commissioner Robert Kawahara sentenced Brewer to 36 months' probation and ordered him to complete 45 days of work for the California Department of Transportation.
"This was an effort by all concerned to resolve an interesting situation in Los Angeles history," said Barry Bernstein, Brewer's attorney.
The other suspect, former Los Angeles police officer Todd Natow, 42, is due back in court Friday for his arraignment. He is charged with 14 misdemeanor counts related to the release of the alligator.
Each of the counts carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Under a separate administrative proceeding, the city also will seek restitution from both men to recover the costs associated with providing additional security and expenses for alligator wranglers who came in from out of state to try to capture the reptile.
The alligator remains loose in the lake at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park.
So far, the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks has incurred more than $155,000 in costs since the alligator was discovered in August, with that amount increasing as long as the alligator remains at large. The restitution hearing to determine the amount to be paid will be held in May.
"That's really what I was always interested in, was being able to get restitution for the city's costs," said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn. "I never wanted anyone to go to jail. It was an irresponsible act that put a lot of people in danger and cost the city a lot of money."
Charges dismissed against Brewer include those related to causing a public nuisance and marijuana possession.
Police believe that Brewer, Reggie's original owner, sought Natow's help when the animal became too big to keep in his backyard habitat in the South Shores neighborhood of San Pedro.
"Mr. Brewer basically is accused of giving his alligator away to somebody else," Bern-stein said, declining further comment about how the alligator wound up in the lake.
Under California law, it is unlawful to possess live alligators for private pet ownership or transport them.
Natow has hired his own defense attorney.
"Sometimes it's just easier to get it behind you and go forward," Bernstein said of his client's no contest plea, which is not an admission of guilt but carries the same weight in criminal proceedings.
Both men were arrested in August following raids at their San Pedro homes, located within a mile of each other and 6 miles of the lake.
During the searches, law enforcement officers confiscated three alligators, three snapping turtles, four piranhas, three tortoises, a scorpion and a tarantula as well as marijuana.
The alligator was last seen in October but is believed to still be in the lake. Alligators hibernate during winter months and often are not seen until spring, when the weather warms up.
Plans for a new capture effort are being made by the city. Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin of Animal Planet has said he will come out to try to capture Reggie. Hahn said he is waiting for the alligator to resurface first.
Reggie's 1st owner draws probation for role in gator case

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• CA Press: Probation for gator case - W von Papineäu, Thu Apr 6 21:42:58 2006