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Alvarez's son pleads innocent in parrot death

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Posted: Friday July 23, 1999 12:31 PM

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The son of Wisconsin football coach Barry Alvarez pleaded innocent on Friday to charges of killing a fraternity brother's parrot by putting it in a microwave oven.

Chad Alvarez is charged with felony theft and intentional mistreatment of an animal resulting in death.

Alvarez was accompanied by his parents to court. Lawyer Steven Hurley entered the pleas before Judge William Foust, who said a date for a jury trial would be set.

Alvarez waived his right to a preliminary hearing on accusations he killed the bird.

If convicted on the theft charge, he faces a maximum fine of $10,000 and a jail sentence of up to five years. On the other charge, he faces a maximum fine up to $10,000 and a jail sentence of up to two years.

Cory Greenfield owned the pet parrot, Iago. He said whoever killed it may have done so because he was angry about an e-mail that was passed around the Sigma Chi fraternity house.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, a former chancellor at the university, is among those who have requested leniency. Her letter is among more than 100 filed with the court on behalf of Alvarez.

 

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