Animal Abuse: Cat set on fire - Alamogordo, NM | Pet-Abuse.Com Animal Cruelty Database

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Case ID: 10201

Classification: Burning - Fire or Fireworks

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Case #10201 Rating: 3.0 out of 5

Cat set on fire
Alamogordo, NM (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Nov 23, 2006
County: Otero

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted

Defendants/Suspects:
» Jose Bustillos
» Luis Orlando Corralez

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

Two men, one from Alamogordo, one from Muleshoe, Texas, were arrested early Nov 23 morning for allegedly setting a cat on fire.

Jose Bustillos, 35, of 805 Catalina Lane, and Orlando Luis Corralez, 21, of 1634 County Road 1046, Muleshoe, Texas, were arrested and charged with extreme cruelty to animals and conspiracy to commit extreme cruelty to animals.

According to its logs, Alamogordo Department of Public Safety officers responded to a vehicle fire call on the 800 block of Catalina about 20 minutes after midnight.

But there was no vehicle on fire.

The resident of the house found that his cat had been badly burned, according to police. The cat lay beneath the vehicle on the driveway.

Further investigation revealed that Bustillos and Corralez stood in a garage across the street. The two allegedly decided to tie an empty beer can filled with an "unknown combustible fuel" to the cat's tail, then ignited it.

The cat's hair was singed over 95 percent of its body. It also suffered third degree burns to its paws, tail and anus.

According to the local veterinary office where the cat was treated, it has since been taken home. DPS said the cat is expected to survive.

Sgt. Mike Seifert of DPS said the reason the two decided to burn the cat is not known.

"There was obvious evidence of them drinking alcohol," he said.

He said extreme cruelty to animals is a fourth degree felony. It differs from garden variety animal cruelty in that it is "more intentional and more malicious," he said.

Both men bonded out of the Otero County Detention Center on Friday. Their bond's were set at $10,000.

Case Updates

An Alamogordo man who deliberately set fire to a cat Nov. 23, 2006, was found guilty by a jury for two felony counts of animal abuse Friday.

Luis O. Corralez, 23, was convicted of two counts of extreme cruelty to animals one for intentionally or maliciously torturing, mutilating, or injuring a cat and the other for conspiracy with another person to commit the act.

The incident came to light in November 2006 when James Dinsdale, a property owner at 802 Catalina Lane, contacted the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety in reference to a possible vehicle fire.

DPS Officer Mark Esquero responded to the scene, where Dinsdale reported he had seen flames under his vehicle and then observed that his cat was on fire.

"Dinsdale also told me he was able to put out the fire that was on the cat, that he had observed a 12-ounce can on fire under his truck, and that he was able to put the fire out and threw the can into the street," Esquero said.

Dinsdale said he had been approached by a man, later identified as Corralez, who apologized to him about his cat being on fire.

Esquero said he observed the burned can in the street, the severe burns to the cat's lower body and a string tied around the cat's tail, which was also burned.

Esquero stated he spoke with Corralez, who told the officer he and his cousin, Jose Bustillos, 37, had intentionally lit the cat on fire.

Both Corralez and Bustillos were arrested at that time.

After being read his rights, Corralez told Esquero that he and Bustillos had been drinking in a garage when the cat came into the garage, that the two had become annoyed with the cat and decided to burn it to get rid of it.

Corralez told the officer that they had both held the cat while Bustillos got a piece of string and tied it around the cat's tail, Esquero said. "Corralez said that Bustillos then poured some petroleum fuel in a beer can and then tied the other end of the string to the can," the officer stated.

Corralez told Esquero Bustillos lit the cat and the can on fire using a lighter, and that the cat had then run across the street and underneath a truck.

Esquero said Bustillos' statements were consistent with Corralez's.

"Mr. Corralez stated it was supposed to just be a joke and said he was now very sorry for what he did," Esquero said.

The cat was transported to Button Brand Veterinary Clinic for treatment. Esquero later learned from the veterinarian the cat had suffered third degree burns to its paws, inner left thigh and anus, and that its face and tail were also scorched. The cat later died.

Corralez now awaits sentencing.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Roxeanne Esquibel.

Bustillos, who was already sentenced in the case Feb. 25 this year, received three years of incarceration to be followed by one year of parole.

Source: El Paso Times - April 30, 2008
Update posted on May 1, 2008 - 12:17AM

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Court and prosecutor information for this case is as follows:

Case No. CR 2007-058 and CR2007-107

District Attorney Scott Key
Otero County District Attorney's Office
1000 New York Avenue, Room 301
Alamogordo, NM 88310-6998
Phone: 505-437-6340
Fax: 505-434-2507

Judge Jerry H. Ritter, Jr.
12th Judicial District
1000 New York Avenue, Room 209
Alamogordo, NM 88310-6940
Phone: 505-437-3030
Fax: 505-437-0752

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Update posted on Aug 17, 2007 - 12:06PM

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Two men accused of setting a cat on fire will go on trial in the fall.

Jose Bustillos and Orlando Luis Corralez were arrested last November and charged with extreme cruelty to animals and conspiracy to commit extreme cruelty to animals. Both are felony charges.

According to reports, the two men tied an empty beer can filled with combustible fuel to the cat's tail, then ignited it.

The cat suffered third degree burns to it's paws, tail and anus, and the cat's hair was singed over 95 percent of its body.

Bustillos and Corralez are scheduled for trial on October 24 at 9:00 a.m.

Source: Alamogordo County Case #200700058
Update posted on Jul 31, 2007 - 6:48PM

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Cat set on fireAlamogordo, NM (US)

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Cat set on fire
Alamogordo, NM (US)