Latest news with #KarlMitchell
Express Tribune
19-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Nevada man arrested after keeping 7 tigers as emotional support pets
A Nevada man has been arrested after seven tigers were seized from his property, which he claimed were his emotional support animals. On Wednesday morning, authorities raided the home of 71-year-old Karl Mitchell in Pahrump, where he was arrested for resisting a peace officer. Nye County officials said Mitchell did not possess the required special conditions animal permit and had a long history of violations. Sheriff Joe McGill told local media that Mitchell had allegedly been seen walking the tigers off-lead on and off the property, even in the desert, and had shared social media posts showing people interacting with the big cats. Mitchell insisted he needed no permits since the animals were his emotional support companions and posed no threat to the public. However, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, tigers are not recognised as legitimate emotional support animals. He also claimed he had rescued the tigers from Joe Exotic, the former Oklahoma zookeeper featured in Netflix's Tiger King series, who is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence for a murder-for-hire plot. During the raid, Mitchell initially cooperated with deputies but then refused to provide keys to the tiger enclosures, preventing wildlife workers and a veterinarian from conducting inspections. All seven tigers were eventually seized and will remain at an undisclosed sanctuary until further notice. Authorities said two of the cats appeared underweight, and some water containers were covered in algae. Court records show ongoing legal battles between Mitchell and Nye County since at least 2020, including Mitchell's lawsuit claiming the county had interfered with his personal life and sought over $1 million in damages. In addition to resisting arrest, Mitchell was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person due to a previous felony conviction. He was released later that day on $6,000 bail. More charges could follow. Mitchell is due in court on 15 May.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man, 71, arrested after 7 'emotional support' tigers found in his house
A 71-year-old man from Nevada was arrested last week after authorities seized seven tigers, which he claimed were all 'emotional support animals,' he kept in his home, according to multiple media reports. Authorities with the Nye County reportedly raided Karl Mitchell's home in Pahrump, a town approximately 65 miles west of Las Vegas, on March 2, saying the man did not have the proper permits to keep the animals, NBC News reported. In an interview, Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill told the outlet that the 71-year-old had been seen walking the wild animals on and off his desert property and that posts on social media showed him allowing others to interact with the tigers, both of which were violations of the law. For his part, Mitchell allegedly claimed he did not need the special condition animal permits because the tigers, according to a lawsuit he filed against Nye County in 2020, had already been recognized by county officials as his emotional support animals. The 71-year-old also claimed that the tigers did not pose any threat to the public, The Economic Times reported. In another twist, Mitchell said he rescued the tigers from Joe Exotic, born Joseph Maldonado, the Oklahoma zookeeper who was the center of the Netflix series 'Tiger King.' Maldonado, 61, has been imprisoned since 2019 for attempting to hire hitmen to kill his longtime rival in the wildlife rescue space, Carole Baskin. He was also found guilty of killing tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying records. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the crimes, which was later reduced to 21 years upon appeal. As for Mitchell, he was arrested and booked for resisting a peace officer and being a felon in possession of a gun during the March 2 raid. He was released the same day after posting $6,000 bail, NBC News reported. According to Sheriff McGill, some of the big cats appeared to be underweight and algae was found growing in the animals' water dishes. The seven tigers were examined by a veterinarian who was at Mitchell's home when they were removed. The sheriff said the animals were taken to an 'undisclosed sanctuary where they will be held until ordered to be released,' NBC News reported. Mitchell is expected to appear in court on May 15. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Nevada man arrested after 7 'emotional support' tigers seized from his home
A Nevada man who was arrested Wednesday after seven tigers were seized from his home said they were his "emotional support animals." Officials conducted a raid on 71-year-old Karl Mitchell's Pahrump home Wednesday morning and arrested the man for resisting arrest. Mitchell did not have a Special Conditions Animal Permit to own the animals, which is required by Nye County, and violated other rules over the years, officials said. "We have received information over the years that he has been seen walking the tigers loose around the property, off the property in the desert," Nye County Sheriff Joe MCgill said in an interview with NBC affiliate KSNV. "There have been social media posts from him with people interacting with the cats which is also in violation." In an interview with the outlet, Mitchell said he did not need permits because the tigers are his emotional support animals, and that the public was not in any danger from the tigers. Mitchell also said he "rescued" the big cats from "Tiger King" Joe Exotic, the former Oklahoma zookeeper of Netflix fame who was convicted in a murder-for-hire case involving animal welfare activist Carole Baskin. He's currently serving a 21-year sentence in prison. Mitchell initially accompanied deputies who were walking around the property during the raid Wednesday, but refused to hand over keys to the tiger cages so a veterinarian and wildlife refuge workers could inspect and take custody of them, according to a report from the Nye County Sheriff's Office. The seven tigers were seized from Mitchell's home and evaluated by a veterinarian who was on site during their removal, according to the Nye County Sheriff's Office. The big cats will be taken "to an undisclosed sanctuary where they will be held until ordered to be released." Court documents filed as recently as 2020 show a back-and-forth between Mitchell and Nye County, including the county asking the 71-year-old to move animals from his property and lawsuits he filed in response asking for over $1,000,000 in damages. In a lawsuit filed by Mitchell and his wife in 2020, they allege that the county "has intentionally interfered" with their "business and private life" and caused extreme distress "due to the threat of the County taking what the County has recognized as their emotional support animals." Mitchell was charged with resisting a peace officer during the seizure of the animals and booked into the Nye County Detention Center in Pahrump, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies also found a handgun in Mitchell's possession, triggering a charge of possession of a gun by a prohibited person, as he has been convicted of a felony. Mitchell was released on $6,000 bail on the same day, per officials. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. McGill said more charges can be filed against Mitchell in the near future, adding that a couple of the animals taken from his property "visibly appeared to be underweight," and some of their water dishes had algae growing in them, KSNV reported. Nye County District Attorney Brian Kunzi said his office "has not received any report or request for prosecution," in connection with Mitchell. Mitchell is expected to appear in court on May 15, per court records. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Seven tigers seized from Nevada residence of exotic animal dealer
Seven tigers have been seized from the Nevada home of an exotic animal dealer, who has ties to the notorious 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic. Nye County authorities said they were assisting code enforcement and animal services in taking the animals from the property, located in Pahrump – around 63 miles from Las Vegas. The operation took most of Wednesday due to the need to sedate the tigers and remove them from the property, according to Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill. Photos shared by the sheriff's office showed the tigers, including what appeared to be a rare white tiger, in cages. They are due to be taken to a local wildlife sanctuary. McGill told 8 News Now that the operation began around 7 a.m. after deputies searched the property owned by Karl Mitchell. Mitchell, who has reportedly been in possession of the tigers for the past seven years, has been involved in numerous legal battles over the animals, the outlet reported. He has also been cited multiple times for violating basic animal care standards and once had his license for owning exotic animals revoked by the federal government. In 2001, Mitchell's license for the animals was revoked and he went to prison three years later for stealing from Nye County after the county hired him as its animal control officer, according to 8 News Now. After leaving prison, the outlet reported, he acquired more big cats, including some purchased from the Oklahoma operation run by Joe Exotic - whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado. Maldonado was thrust into fame in a Netflix series 'The Tiger King.' He was later convicted of animal abuse counts and was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison. 'I'm always appalled whenever Karl Mitchell has anything with a heartbeat,' Linda Faso told 8 News in 2020, 'because of his history of neglect and abuse.'
The Independent
02-04-2025
- The Independent
Seven tigers seized from Nevada residence of exotic animal dealer
Seven tigers have been seized from the Nevada home of an exotic animal dealer, who has ties to the notorious ' Tiger King ' Joe Exotic. Nye County authorities said they were assisting code enforcement and animal services in taking the animals from the property, located in Pahrump – around 63 miles from Las Vegas. The operation took most of Wednesday due to the need to sedate the tigers and remove them from the property, according to Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill. Photos shared by the sheriff's office showed the tigers, including what appeared to be a rare white tiger, in cages. They are due to be taken to a local wildlife sanctuary. McGill told 8 News Now that the operation began around 7 a.m. after deputies searched the property owned by Karl Mitchell. Mitchell, who has reportedly been in possession of the tigers for the past seven years, has been involved in numerous legal battles over the animals, the outlet reported. He has also been cited multiple times for violating basic animal care standards and once had his license for owning exotic animals revoked by the federal government. In 2001, Mitchell's license for the animals was revoked and he went to prison three years later for stealing from Nye County after the county hired him as its animal control officer, according to 8 News Now. After leaving prison, the outlet reported, he acquired more big cats, including some purchased from the Oklahoma operation run by Joe Exotic - whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado. Maldonado was thrust into fame in a Netflix series 'The Tiger King.' He was later convicted of animal abuse counts and was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison. 'I'm always appalled whenever Karl Mitchell has anything with a heartbeat,' Linda Faso told 8 News in 2020, 'because of his history of neglect and abuse.'
