The Tooele man who stole a pair of iguanas after breaking into a city pet shop was sentenced to probation and will have to pay restitution.
Christopher Solomon Proctor, 35, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft and burglary charges last November. He was sentenced to 24 months of probation, $905 in restitution and 60 hours of community service in 3rd District Court Tuesday afternoon.
The burglary and theft charges were amended to misdemeanors from third-degree felonies. Proctor was also charged with an additional count of misdemeanor theft and criminal mischief, but both charges were dismissed.
On Aug. 19, Rockstar Pets in Tooele was broken into and two rare iguanas, including an albino male, were stolen from the store. The iguanas, which were the only thing taken from the store, had an estimated value of $2,400.
The burglary occurred at night and Rockstar Pets’ security system was turned off, so no footage of the break-in was recorded, according to store employees.
A week later, store manager Natalie Hood received an anonymous phone call that there were animals in a box behind the store. When she opened the Styrofoam container, the pair of iguanas was found inside wrapped among a blue pillowcase and other packing material.
During an August interview, Hood said the iguanas were a little dehydrated and irritable but otherwise healthy.
The male iguana is a Crutchfield albino iguana, which is a rare morph of albinism in reptiles that is highly sought after. The female iguana is the typical shade of green most iguanas would be but carries the albino genes prized by breeders.