The tiger-loving thrill seeker, mauled by a Bronx Zoo tiger last year, pleaded not guilty to trespassing charges this morning.
David Villalobos, 25, didn’t exhibit any visible wounds today from the nutty Sept. 12 incident when he jumped from the Bronx Zoo monorail into a tiger’s den.
He wore a dark suit and attended the brief hearing with his parents. The big cat lover declined comment as he left Bronx Criminal Court.
Villalobos was been ordered to return to court on June 13.
“He’s a very intelligent person and he’ll explain exactly what happened,” defense lawyer Corey Sokoler said. “But with the case pending it is not the time to do that.”
With a previously clean criminal record, Villalobos is expected to get probation and avoid any jail time.
“David’s recovered very well. The injuries were serious so it’s pretty amazing to watch him walk,” Sokoler said. “He’s walking fairly well but he’s not fully covered.”
Villalobos shocked New Yorkers with his “spiritual,” death-defying kitty leap.
“I was testing my natural fear,” he told cops, according a criminal complaint. “You would not understand. It is a spiritual thing. I wanted to be one with the tiger.”
Additional reporting by David K. Li