Man charged with animal cruelty in beating death of duckling at Irvine pool

NBC Los Angeles reports that 71-year-old Randall Lee Bertsch was charged Thursday with two felony counts of animal cruelty, three felony counts of attempted animal cruelty, and related charges in connection with a May 13 attack at an Irvine community pool in which he beat ducklings with a plastic recycling bin in front of witnesses, killing at least one duckling and seriously injuring another. The reporting is sourced directly from Orange County District Attorney prosecutors and includes specific charges, sentencing exposure (up to 7.5 years), video evidence of the beating, and a statement from DA Todd Spitzer—demonstrating solid investigative journalism with named authorities. The independent search found no corroborating coverage of this specific Irvine incident from other outlets, though it did surface similar animal cruelty charges in California, suggesting this remains a localized story; the article appropriately includes context about federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act protections. Watch for trial proceedings and any bail hearing determinations, as Bertsch is currently wanted on a $50,000 arrest warrant with prosecutors seeking increased bail.