The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review the case of Joseph Maldonado-Passage, widely known as Joe Exotic from the Netflix documentary ‘Tiger King.’ This decision upholds his 21-year prison sentence for a murder-for-hire plot.
Maldonado-Passage was convicted in 2019 for attempting to hire someone to kill Carole Baskin, an animal rights activist and his rival in the big cat community. His legal team had sought a retrial, arguing that his conviction was unjust. However, the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case means that his current sentence remains in effect.
This development marks the latest chapter in a legal saga that has captured national attention, especially following the popularity of the ‘Tiger King’ series. The documentary shed light on the controversial world of private zoos and exotic animal ownership in the United States.
For residents in Amarillo and across Texas, this case serves as a reminder of the complexities and legal challenges associated with wildlife ownership and the importance of adhering to both state and federal laws governing such practices.