Idaho man sentenced to seven years for killing zoo monkey

By Laura Zuckerman

(Reuters) - An Idaho man who admitted to breaking into a Boise zoo last year and killing a monkey was sentenced to seven years in prison on Thursday, court records show.

Michael Watkins, 22, of Weiser, Idaho, in March pleaded guilty to attempted grand theft, a felony, and misdemeanor animal cruelty stemming from the break-in and beating death of the monkey at Zoo Boise in November.

The primate was one of the zoo's two Patas monkeys, ground-dwelling animals from Africa that stand more than 2 feet tall and weigh about 35 pounds. They are rare in zoos but not endangered in the wild.

The case shook officials at the zoo and triggered an outpouring of sympathy and donations from animal lovers worldwide.

Watkins scaled the security fence at Zoo Boise in the pre-dawn hours of November 17 and attempted to steal the monkey, which bit him, police said. Watkins then kicked and hit the animal, severely wounding it, according to police. The monkey later died of blunt force trauma, zoo officials said.

Zoo Boise Director Steve Burns said on Thursday the sentencing of Watkins closed a particularly devastating chapter for the facility.

"We're moving on," he said. "The court has done its job and we're continuing to do our job."

In the days after the death, zoo staff sought to boost the spirits of the companion-less Patas monkey and considered shipping it to another zoo with primates since they are exceedingly social, Burns said.

Instead, Zoo Boise in December gained two female Patas monkeys donated by the Rosamund Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York.

News about the monkey's death brought donations from across the United States and overseas, allowing the zoo to begin construction on Monday of a $250,000 exhibit for the three Patas monkeys, Burns said.

(Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Bill Trott)

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Stella! Grumpy dog leads to win $ 1 M Idaho lottery

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)-a group of University of Utah workers will split $ 1 million in lottery winnings with a set of keys left in a truck and a little ornery dog named "Star".

Thirteen years after playing the same set of numbers each month in Idaho Lottery, the Group of 33 workers who work on heating and cooling academic buildings struck pay dirt when Steve Hughes left his truck running to keep his dog "Star" hot while he went inside a gas station near Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, on January 6. Utah has no lottery.
When he returned to his truck, his miniature pincher had blocked him putting his paw on the manual keylock. Hughes, 29, planned to buy tickets elsewhere, but instead had his girlfriend buy it there while trying to pick the lock with a slim jim.
He coached the late Star to put his paws on the electronic button on the backseat window, allowing Hughes to arrive by car.
What looked like an annoying delay that day turned out to be fortuitous, when the Group discovered Wednesday evening that had won the second prize in the Powerball Idaho. Announced the great news during a morning meeting Thursday morning at the HVAC shop at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Hughes thought it was a joke — trying the camera filming the hoax.
"It was pretty exciting," said Richard Tison, 50, the supervisor.
About 25 members of the Group made the 5.5-hour trip on a charter bus in Boise, Idaho on Friday to turn in their winning ticket and collect their checks. The rest had to stay behind to make sure the buildings of the University were toasted the cold winter day, Tison said.
It was a raucous ride on bus, with the crew that makes type atmosphere "party bus" as they celebrated their good fortune. After collecting the money, the Group expected climb back on board the bus for the journey home — although some have suggested it might stop at a watering hole in Boise to contemplate their winnings.
Tison and Hughes say will each get about $ 20,000 after taxes, or as Hughes said, "A nice little bonus during the year."
Hughes plans to save half of his share and buy a four-Wheeler. Many of the group plans to buy four wheels or drag cars, he said. Some are going to save or invest.
"I'm going to pay some bills and probably get a boat," said Tison.
Hughes, "dog Star", did not get to go on a Friday "party bus" but the lucky winners previously had made sure she was rewarded.
"He got a couple of big surprises, when I got home," said Hughes. "She got by 18 inch rawhide bones."
The Group began buying tickets in February 2001 with only three people. The pool has grown to 33 people, but the philosophy of use the same numbers is never changed.
Recently, some in the Group suggested changing the numbers — fed up with 13 years of futility. But Tison, one of three original, insisted that they stay the course. Hughes estimated that they each put in $ 200-$ 400 over the years, depending on how long you've been in the group.
Tison said they plan to continue playing the Powerball Idaho, turns making monthly 1.5 hour drive to Millad, Idaho to pick up a ticket.
And Yes, Tison says that you can continue to play the same numbers: 11-16-33-40-41.
"There is no need to change them," said Tison. "It worked once, why wouldn't work again".
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Associated Press writer John Miller in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report.

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