Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Michelle Heldmyer | | Judge(s): | Philip A. Brimmer |
Images for this Case
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
more information on voting
When you vote, you are voting on whether or not the punishment fit the crime, NOT on the severity of the case itself. If you feel the sentence was very weak, you would vote 1 star. If you feel the sentence was very strong, you would vote 5 stars.
Please vote honestly and realistically. These ratings will be used a a tool for many future programs, including a "Peoples Choice" of best and worst sentencing, DA and judge "report cards", and more. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isnt enough.
Case #16009 Rating: 2.0 out of 5
Dog dragged to death behind vehicle
Grand Junction, CO (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009
County: Mesa
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available
Defendants/Suspects:
» Steven Clay Romero
» Melissa Marie Lockhart
Case Updates: 5 update(s) available
A man wanted in connection with Wednesday's dragging death of dog at the Colorado National Monument was arrested today in Grand Junction and charged with aggravated cruelty towards animals.
Joan Anzelmo, superintendent of the monument, identified the suspect as Steven Clay Romero, 37, of Grand Junction.
She said Romero is alleged to have stolen the dog -- Buddy, a German shepherd-blue heeler mix -- from people in Delta. He allegedly took the dog to the Colorado National Monument early Wednesday, tied the dog to his truck and dragged the dog for three miles.
Anzelmo said the dog was dumped at the roadside.
Romero was arrested as he emerged from a courtroom in the Grand Junction Courthouse, said Anzelmo. He was appearing on unrelated charges.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver, video surveillance at the west entrance of the monument showed a double-cab pickup truck entering the monument at 2:18 a.m. Wednesday with a dog in the bed of the truck.
Cameras in the outbound lane showed the same truck leaving the monument at 2:30 a.m. without the dog.
After reviewing footage of the truck, National Park Rangers visited Romero's residence where they saw paw prints in the snow of the front yard.
One witness told investigators he saw Romero leave the residence with the dog and return later without it.
A second witness told investigators that Romero said he was going to kill the dog.
A search was made of Romero's home and inside the garage was rope matching the rope tied around the dog's neck.
Romero faces one count of aggravated cruelty towards animals. If convicted, the penalty is a maximum of three years in federal prison and a fine of $100,000, and one year of mandatory parole.
Anzelmo said she believes additional charges may be filed against Romero.
Case UpdatesMelissa Marie Lockhart, 33, formerly of Fruita, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer to serve 12 months and one day in federal prison for being an accessory after the fact in the dragging death of "Buddy the Dog." Lockhart was also ordered by Judge Brimmer to serve one year of supervised release following her incarceration.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, in the early morning hours of Dec. 20, 2009, a mixed-breed dog named "Buddy," who belonged to a Delta family, was found dead on the Colorado National Monument. Buddy had been dragged to his death behind a red pickup truck driven by Steven Clay Romero, Lockhart's brother, who lives in Grand Junction. Buddy, and another dog owned by the victim, had been taken from the Delta area the morning before Buddy's death by Lockhart. Lockhart and Romero took the dogs to Lockhart's home in Fruita, where she resided with her husband and children. At the time they were taken, the dogs were healthy, clean and well-fed.
All parties left the home for a period of time on Dec. 29. Later that evening, Lockhart and Romero returned and discovered the remains of their kitten in Lockhart's home. Blaming Buddy for the death, Romero took Buddy to the monument in the back of a pickup truck, tied a rope around his neck and to the truck, and drove uphill. Buddy died of internal hemorrhaging consistent with a dragging death.
After Buddy was dead, Romero cut the rope and left the monument, leaving Buddy's remains on the side of the road.
Police in Delta began an investigation into the dog theft, as park rangers from the Colorado National Monument independently investigated Buddy's death. Through an eyewitness, Delta police identified Lockhart as the person who had left a Delta business parking lot with the two dogs. As the investigation continued, Delta police officers conducted a number of conversations and interviews with Lockhart. During one such conversation, Lockhart said that she took the dogs because they were in an abandoned house. The eyewitness has stated that the dogs were loose, having gotten out of the back of another pickup truck, and were playing with Lockhart's children while Lockhart was seeing Dr. Sam Jahani. The dogs were then put in Lockhart's car, and she drove away. The witness wrote down Lockhart's license plate number.
In July, Steven Clay Romero, age 38, of Grand Junction was sentenced to serve the maximum sentence provided by the law, 36 months in federal prison, followed by 12 months of supervised release for aggravated animal cruelty in the dragging death of Buddy.
The case was investigated by the National Park Service, which is a division of the Department of Interior, the Delta Police Department, the Fruita Police Department, the Grand Junction Police Department, the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. | Source: deltacountyindependent.com - Sep 22, 2010
Update posted on Dec 30, 2010 - 10:19AM |
Steven Clay Romero, the man who plead guilty in the dragging death of Buddy the dog, was sentenced today in Denver and will serve the maximum sentence provided by the law.
Romero will serve 36 months in a federal prison followed by 12 months of supervised release for aggravated animal cruelty.
The Judge also ordered him to pay a $500 fine as well as $343.68 in restitution to the owners of Buddy.
Back on December 30th, Buddy's body was found with a rope tied around his neck in the Colorado National Monument.
Romero's sister, Melissa Lockhart is charged with being an accessory after the fact to aggravated animal cruelty for her attempt to cover up the dog's murder. Her case is still pending.
If convicted, she will face not more than 3 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine, or both. | Source: kjct8.com - Jul 30 2010
Update posted on Dec 30, 2010 - 10:14AM |
A woman who pleaded guilty last month for her role in the death of a dog on Colorado National Monument was arrested Thursday on allegations she's repeatedly violated terms of her release.
Melissa Lockhart, 32, was arrested by U.S. Marshals at the Wayne N. Aspinall federal building, 400 Rood Ave., one day after U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer in Denver issued a warrant for her arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer earlier this week asked for a new warrant, alleging that Lockhart had an unexcused absence from a substance abuse treatment program, while adding Lockhart will be discharged from the program, according to court documents. Among her conditions of pretrial release, Lockhart was ordered to complete a treatment program.
"In addition," Heldmyer wrote in a motion for an arrest warrant, "the defendant has been falsely representing her health status in order to avoid responsibilities placed upon her by this court and the state court."
"There is no condition or combination of conditions of release that will assure that the defendant will not flee or pose a danger to the safety of any other person or the community," the prosecutor wrote.
The motion for an arrest warrant was second in two months in which federal authorities have claimed that Lockhart has flaunted conditions of release. Lockhart was admonished by Judge Brimmer on May 6 after prosecutors alleged she missed seven consecutive meetings with her attorney.
On May 28, the judge again admonished Lockhart for continued "dismal performance" while on release, according to court filings. That same day, Lockhart pleaded guilty to a charge of being an accessory to a crime in the Dec. 30, 2009, death of Buddy, a dog killed at the hands of Lockhart's brother, Steven Romero, 38.
She has pleaded not guilty to state charges alleging she stole two dogs, including Buddy, from a truck in downtown Delta on Dec. 29. Prosecutors said Lockhart told her brother to get rid of Buddy after the dog killed a cat at Lockhart's home.
Romero pleaded guilty April 29 to aggravated animal cruelty and faces sentencing in Denver on July 30.
Lockhart's sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 17 in Denver. | Source: gjsentinel.com - Jun 25, 2010
Update posted on Dec 30, 2010 - 10:05AM |
Click here for copy of Melissa Lockhart's plea agreement
May 28, 2010
MELISSA LOCKHART CHARGED AND PLEADS GUILTY TO BEING AN ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT IN THE DRAGGING
DEATH OF "BUDDY THE DOG"
DENVER �" Melissa Marie Lockhart, age 32, formerly of Fruita, Colorado, was charged by Information today with one count of being an accessory after the fact to the crime of aggravated animal cruelty. Lockhart then pled guilty to the one count Information before U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer. Judge Brimmer set a sentencing date for Lockhart of September 17, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. After the conclusion of the change of plea hearing, Lockhart was released on bond.
Melissa Marie Lockhart was originally charged by Criminal Complaint, a probable cause charging document, on December 30, 2009. She was then indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on January 25, 2010. She was charged and pled guilty today to a one count Information. An Information is a charging document where the defendant waives their Constitutional right to be indicted by a federal grand jury.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, in the early morning hours of December 30, 2009, a mixed-breed dog named "Buddy," who belonged to a Delta, Colorado family, was found dead on the Colorado National Monument. Buddy had been dragged to his death behind a red pickup truck driven by Steven Clay Romero, Lockhart's brother, who lives in Grand Junction, Colorado. Buddy, and another dog owned by the victim, had been taken from the Delta area the morning before Buddy's death by Lockhart. Lockhart and Romero took the dogs to Lockhart's home in Fruita, where she resided with her husband and children. At the time they were taken, the dogs were healthy, clean and well-fed.
All parties left the home for a period of time on December 29, 2009. Later that evening, Lockhart and Romero returned and discovered the remains of their kitten in Lockhart's home. Blaming Buddy for the death, Romero took Buddy to the Monument in the back of a pickup truck, tied a rope around his neck and to the truck, and drove up hill. Buddy died of internal hemorrhaging consistent with a dragging death.
After Buddy was dead, Romero cut the rope and left the Monument, leaving Buddy's remains on the side of the road.
Police in Delta began an investigation into the dog theft, as Park Rangers from Monument independently investigated Buddy's death. Through an eye witness, Delta police identified Lockhart as the person who had left a Delta business parking lot with the two dogs. As the investigation continued, Delta police officers conducted a number of conversations and interviews with Lockhart. During one such conversation, Lockhart said that she took the dogs because they were in an abandoned house. The eye witness has stated that the dogs were loose, having gotten out of the back of another pickup truck, and were playing with Lockhart's children while Lockhart was seeing Dr. Sam Jahani. The dogs were then put in Lockhart's car, and she drove away. The witness wrote down Lockhart's license plate number.
Lockhart later stated she had taken the dogs to her grandfather's residence in Delta, and left them there, though she was unable to give the police the address or coherent directions to the residence. Officers were able to eventually locate Lockhart's grandfather's residence. The grandfather said he knew nothing about the dogs. Fruita police determined that a neighbor had complained the day before Buddy's death about howling dogs in the Lockhart townhouse. Officers responded, but found no one home. They did see two dogs through the window.
On December 30, 2009, Lockhart accompanied her brother's girlfriend to a parking lot in Grand Junction. Fruita Police Department, Grand Junction Police Department, and Park Rangers were present. Lockhart was approached by police and told that she would be charged in Delta with the theft of the dogs. When given an opportunity to make a statement, Lockhart repeated her false story picking up two dogs that had been abandoned, and were at her house, until one ran away.
According to Romero's girlfriend, the morning after Buddy was killed she met with Romero and Lockhart to plan what would be said to police. All knew that Romero had killed Buddy, and the intended to protect Romero from possible prosecution by lying about the events in question.
As a result of Lockhart's guilty plea, she faces not more than 18 months in federal prison.
The case was investigated by The National Park Service, which is a division of the Department of Interior, the Delta Police Department, the Fruita Police Department, the Grand Junction Police Department, the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Romero and Lockhart are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer. | Source: justice.gov - May 28, 2010
Update posted on Dec 30, 2010 - 9:57AM |
Federal prosecutors have struck a plea agreement with a man accused of torturing and killing a stolen dog on Colorado National Monument.
Steven Clay Romero, 38, of Grand Junction, is expected to plead guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals, the lone count lodged against him by a federal grand jury earlier this year, according to court filings.
The terms of Romero's agreement with prosecutors aren't specified.
Edward Pluss, Romero's federal public defender, filed notice of the plea agreement Thursday in U.S. District Court in Denver. Both sides in the case are expected to meet next week to schedule a plea hearing.
Without the benefit of a plea agreement, Romero faced a maximum of three years in federal prison for allegedly tying a stolen dog, a German shepherd mix named Buddy, to the back of his pickup in the predawn hours of Dec. 30, 2009, and dragging the animal to its death several miles up the west entrance of Colorado National Monument.
Romero's sister, Melissa Lockhart, 32, still faces state charges for allegedly stealing a pair of dogs, including Buddy, from a pickup in downtown Delta on Dec. 29.
Lockhart allegedly told her brother to "get rid" of the dog after it had attacked a family cat, according to an arrest affidavit and testimony during one of Romero's pretrial hearings.
Lockhart was indicted by a federal grand jury on allegations she misled law enforcement during the investigation of the dog's death. She has pleaded not guilty and is free on bond.
As of Friday afternoon, Romero was in custody in the Mesa County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on charges related to a drug case last year in which Romero was arrested at a local hotel on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and a firearm. Romero faces a maximum of 48 years in prison if convicted.
He pleaded not guilty Jan. 27 in connection with the dog's death.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer has said she would pursue a stiff penalty in the case, which brought international attention to Grand Junction and had animal lovers packing the Wayne N. Aspinall federal building.
"This isn't just the United States of America v. Romero," Heldmyer told a judge in January. "This is the world v. Romero." | Source: gjsentinel.com - Jan 5, 2010
Update posted on Dec 30, 2010 - 9:42AM |
References |
