A 25-year-old Los Angeles man has been sentenced to 45 days in prison after he filmed himself capturing a protected hawk and forcing the bird to drink alcohol in a series of disturbing videos posted online.
Disturbing Footage Leads to Arrest
Cesar Gustavo Diaz was arrested earlier this month on animal cruelty charges following an investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Special Operations Unit, which worked with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department's Operation Safe Streets. The investigation was launched after concerned citizens reported videos from June 2025 that had resurfaced on Diaz's YouTube channel.
"Hanging Out With the Homie"
One particularly disturbing video showed Diaz pouring a 15% ABV Lime 'Rita BuzzBallz cocktail directly into the mouth of a Cooper's hawk that he had captured at a park. Diaz captioned the video "Hanging out with the homie," demonstrating a complete disregard for the protected bird's welfare.
Another video on his account showed him snatching a Cooper's hawk as it perched on playground equipment at Amelia Mayberry Park in South Whittier. When asked what he planned to do with the captured bird, Diaz casually responded, "I don't know, take it home."
Additional Evidence of Abuse
A separate video appeared to show the same hawk perched on a porch with what looked like a marijuana joint in its mouth, further demonstrating the extent of the animal abuse. Wildlife officers conducted five search warrants as part of their investigation and interviewed Diaz, who claimed he had already released the bird.
Legal Consequences and Sentencing
Diaz, who investigators discovered was already in custody as a convicted felon on unrelated charges, faced misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and capturing and confining wildlife. On February 19, he pleaded "no contest" to the animal cruelty charge, while the second charge was dismissed.
In addition to his 45-day sentence in Los Angeles County Jail, Diaz received:
- 12 months of probation
- 20 days of community labor
- Mandatory participation in an animal cruelty counseling program
- A five-year prohibition on owning animals
- A ten-year firearm prohibition
- A $220 fine
According to jail records, Diaz received credit for time already served from previous charges and was released from jail on Tuesday following his sentencing.
Protected Species Under Law
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife emphasized that Cooper's hawks like the one featured in Diaz's videos are protected under both state and federal law. Capturing, harming, or harassing these protected animals can result in serious criminal charges and cause severe harm to the wildlife.
"Those who capture or harass these animals can be hit with criminal charges," warned the CDFW in their statement about the case. The department's warning serves as a reminder that wildlife protection laws carry significant consequences for violators.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for additional information about Diaz's criminal record. Diaz's contact information was not immediately available for comment on this article.
