SAN FRANCISCO — A Los Angeles man who stole a lemur from the San Francisco Zoo, only to release it days later at a Daly City playground, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and been given a sentence that carries no additional jail time, court records show.
Cory McGilloway, 32, has spent the bulk of the past 18 months behind bars as he awaited resolution in the case. In June 2021, he was brought up to the Bay Area on federal charges of violating the Endangered Species Act, briefly released to a mental health treatment facility, but re-arrested after cutting off his ankle bracelet and fleeing, court records show.
In a plea deal, both federal prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed McGilloway has been behind bars long enough. On Tuesday, he was formally sentenced to “at least three months” of mental healthcare treatment and one year of supervised release. Attorneys on both sides also agreed McGilloway needs drug addiction treatment, though the court did not order it as a condition of his release.
In October 2020, McGilloway snuck into the San Francisco Zoo after hours and took a 21-year-old ring-tailed lemur, Maki. A two-day lemur-hunt was launched, which ended when McGilloway left the creature at a Daly City playground. A day earlier, he’d been seen walking Maki on a leash on Treasure Island, prosecutors say.
McGilloway was identified as a suspect after being arrested in San Ramon on suspicion of stealing a dump truck. Police officers searched his phone and found a video of the lemur drinking from a water bowl in McGilloway’s Saab.
Prosecutors allege that McGilloway may have been planning to sell Maki, since he Googled terms like “how much it is to buy a lemur,” and “how much is a lemur.” But there is evidence that he simply wanted one as a pet; he also searched for “what is required to own a lemur,” possible lemur names, and information about lemur diets and veterinary care.
“Whether a result of mental health or substance abuse issues, Mr. McGilloway understands that he was not in a stable place and clearly his judgment was deeply flawed and misdirected,” assistant federal public defender Elisse LaRouche, McGilloway’s lawyer, wrote in a sentencing memo. “However, Mr. McGilloway did not mean to cause harm to anyone, and this is aberrant conduct that he will not again engage in.”
McGilloway is leaving California to live with family on the East Coast, according to court records.
Maki died last March, at age 22, of old age and kidney disease. San Francisco Zoological Society CFO Tanya Peterson put out a public statement after his death praising his “remarkable” perseverance through the ordeal of being stolen.
“Maki became a symbol of resilience and bravery, becoming a fan favorite,” Peterson said. “His story increased awareness of endangered lemurs worldwide. We are heartbroken for this loss.”
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