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Case #11962 Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Two dogs beaten to death
Los Angeles, CA (US)Incident Date: Friday, Jul 13, 2007
County: Los Angeles
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Keith K. Chung
Case Updates: 4 update(s) available
A Los Angeles pharmacist accused of fatally beating two dogs was charged on Aug 7 with animal cruelty, as District Attorney Steve Cooley announced a new program expected to increase the number of animal-related cases filed.
Keith Chung, 41, is suspected in the beating deaths of his two Schnauzers, one of which was found in his freezer, Cooley told reporters at a news conference.
Chung -- who pleaded not guilty -- was arrested July 13 by Los Angeles police responding to a report from neighbors of a dog barking as in distress, according to the District Attorney's Office.
He is free on bail and due back at the Airport Branch Courthouse on Aug. 21 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial on the two felony animal cruelty counts and a felony charge of possession of an opiate.
The charges were announced as Cooley unveiled a program to better train prosecutors and law enforcement officers on investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty cases.
"One of our goals is to raise awareness. More and more residents are reporting these cases to law enforcement and we want them to do so. It's a very good thing and we want to encourage it and part of our program will do just that," Cooley said. "We've been pretty good (at) prosecuting these cases historically, but now we're moving in an area where we'll be much more comprehensive, spread our knowledge and our experience and our expertise."
Deputy District Attorney Deborah Knaan, who returned in June from a six-month leave of absence to serve as the assistant general manager of operations for the city's Department of Animal Services, will serve as the office's animal cruelty case coordinator.
Cooley said he had asked all of his branch offices, along with those in downtown Los Angeles, to designate specific prosecutors who will be specially trained to handle animal cruelty cases.
Cooley noted that county prosecutors filed cases involving animals last week against two men -- a Simi Valley man accused of leaving his two-year-old Labrador retriever in a car in Canoga Park for four hours, where it was found dead; and a Lawndale man charged with stabbing a Redondo Beach police dog.
Cooley said that he expects the new program to help generate more awareness of animal cruelty, and that he thinks a rise in the number of criminal cases would be "predictable."
"You're going to see a lot more of this detected, which means more investigated, more prosecuted, which hopefully means a reduction of the problem," the district attorney said.
Knaan said the program will explore "any and all forms of animal cruelty," with the two most common forms being abuse by neglect and acts of cruelty.
"I think that dog fighting is one of the things, obviously, that we are actively looking into, and we are hoping that by having this unit we are going to be raising the awareness of the community about dog fighting and hopefully instigate some reporting," she said. "Most crimes occur in the shadows, but this is really one that happens underground."
LAPD Lt. Tony Lomedico with the Animal Cruelty Task Force said investigators have come across "some spontaneous dog fighting," along with cock-fighting.
But he said animal neglect "is probably the number one thing," noting that public awareness is the key.
Case UpdatesA state appeals court panel ruled on June 3, 2010 that police had the right to enter a man's Marina del Rey condo to check on a complaint of animal cruelty, despite the fact they didn't have a search warrant.
The case stems from an incident that occured on the morning of July 13, 2007, according to officials.
Officers reportedly showed up at Keith Chung's condo after they said a neighbor called 911 believing he was torturing an animal.
The court ruled officials had "exigent circumstances" to enter after they said they heard whimpering coming from the apartment.
Authorities testified in an earlier trial that they found a badly wounded dog on the condo's terrace as well as a dog wrapped in plastic in the freezer.
Animal Control also testified that Chung told them he didn't own dogs when they arrived.
Presiding Justice Joan D. Klein said officers entered believing "there was an animal in distress. The officers only entered without a warrant after Chung refused permission."
Two other justices concurred with the 13-page ruling.
The dog found injured on the balcony had to be put down later that morning.
The ruling noted that both dogs "suffered head trauma."
Chung works as a pharmacist.
He pleaded no contest in August 2008 to one count of felony animal cruelty.
Chung was sentenced to 16 months in prison October 2008 but later appealed saying the officer's entry into his home was unlawful and should not have been considered reasonable. | Source: CBS2.com - June 3, 2010
Update posted on Jun 8, 2010 - 12:33PM |
A Los Angeles pharmacist accused of fatally beating two dogs was ordered Monday to stand trial on animal cruelty charges.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Katherine Mader found sufficient evidence to allow the case against Keith Chung, 41, to proceed to trial.
Along with two animal cruelty counts, Chung is charged with possession of an opiate. All of the charges are felonies.
The defendant is suspected in the beating deaths of his two Schnauzers -- one of which was found in his freezer, according to prosecutors.
He is due back at the Airport Branch Courthouse for arraignment on Oct. 15. | Source: KNBC - Oct 1, 2007
Update posted on Oct 2, 2007 - 12:25AM |
Court contact information for this case is as follows:
COURT LOCATION:
Airport Branch Courthouse
11701 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: 310-727-6100
Phone: 310-727-6500
Next Court date: Oct. 1, 2007 8:30 a.m.
Case #: LAXSA064964
Prosecutor:
Nicholas Swertlow
Airport Branch Courthouse
11701 S. Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: 310-727-6500
Fax: 310-727-0565
Judge:
Hector Guzman
Airport Branch Courthouse
11701 S. Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: 310-727-6051
Fax: 310-727-1952
Tips for Effective Letter Writing:
http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/action_alerts/letter_writing.php | Source: Los Angeles County Superior Court
Update posted on Sep 16, 2007 - 10:19PM |
A Los Angeles pharmacist accused of fatally beating two dogs appeared in court on August 30 to face animal cruelty charges, according to court records.
Keith Chung, 41, is suspected in the beating deaths of his two Schnauzers, one of which was reportedly found in his freezer.
Chung will appear in court next on September 10 at 8:30 a.m. at the Airport Branch of the Los Angeles Superior Court. | Source: Case #LAXSA064964
Update posted on Aug 31, 2007 - 4:54PM |
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