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Andrew Morales, known on social media as "the Cuban Tarzan," and the influencer Braden Peters, nicknamed "Clavicular," avoided jail last Friday after reaching an agreement with the Prosecutor's Office in a Miami-Dade court regarding the shooting of an alligator in the Florida Everglades.
According to a report by Telemundo 51, both pleaded no contest to the charges before the judge, each facing one count of illegal discharge of a firearm in a public place, a first-degree misdemeanor under Florida law, with a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
The judge imposed six months of conditional release with reporting requirements, with the possibility of early termination, and 20 hours of community service, with a notable condition given their profile as content creators: those hours cannot be live-streamed or monetized.
In addition, both must complete a firearms safety course and a wildlife course from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The judge was clear about the consequences of noncompliance: if they violate parole, they could face up to 364 days in jail.
The incident that led to the charges occurred on March 26 at the boat ramp dock of the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area, within the Everglades.
A viral video shared on social media showed several people aboard a hovercraft repeatedly shooting at a crocodile that appeared to be already dead. In the audio of the clip, a voice can be heard saying, "I think that crocodile is dead, just to make sure."
The FWC announced that it was investigating the incident following the release of the video.
On April 29, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office filed charges against Peters, Morales, and a third man identified as Yabdiel Aníbal Cotto Torres, 26 years old, known as "Baby Alien".
This third party did not appear in court and is expected to face the judge later in May.
Peters' attorney had previously stated that no animal was harmed and that his client was following the instructions of a licensed airboat guide.
Upon leaving the courthouse, Peters approached Morales with a smile, and they shook hands before leaving together with their legal teams. Peters greeted the cameras. Neither made any statements to the press: "No comments. No comments, guys. Thank you," replied his legal team.
Moreales, 22 years old, is a Cuban resident in South Florida who gained popularity on social media for videos capturing green iguanas—an invasive species in Florida—by hand in the canals of Miami-Dade and the Everglades. His content has amassed over 70 million views across various platforms.
Peters, 20 years old, is also facing other legal issues: he was arrested in Fort Lauderdale on March 27 for assault charges after allegedly instigating a fight between two women and posting it online; in April, he was hospitalized in Miami following an alleged overdose, and he is facing a civil lawsuit in Miami-Dade filed by a teenage influencer who accuses him of assault.
The case remains open pending final closure until "Baby Alien" appears before the judge, which is expected to happen before the end of May.
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