Dog's ears cut off, dog-fighting suspected
Santa Paula, CA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Mar 11, 2010
County: Ventura
Charges: Felony CTA, Felony Non-CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Jose Uriel Zamora
» Joshua Mendoza
» Jonathon Gaona
Three alleged Ventura gang members were arrested this week following a month-long investigation into alleged animal cruelty, authorities said.
Jose Uriel Zamora, 32, Joshua Mendoza, 19 and Jonathon Gaona, 20 were arrested Thursday on suspicion of animal cruelty and street terrorism after authorities served search warrants at three residences in Santa Paula, Ventura police said.
Gaona was also arrested on suspicion of possessing a stolen handgun, and Zamora could also face a charge of committing felonies after previously being deported, police said.
The suspects are all alleged members of a Ventura gang who were living in Santa Paula, said Sgt. Jerry Foreman of the Ventura police.
The arrests followed an investigation by Ventura, Oxnard and Santa Paula police along with the Humane Society of Ventura County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement into allegations of possible dog fighting.
Investigators found no evidence that dog fighting occurred. However, they uncovered evidence that the three suspects clipped a pit bull’s ears with scissors, an act of animal cruelty, Foreman said.
Investigators did not find the dog who’s ears were allegedly clipped by the suspects, Foreman said.
All three suspects were behind bars in Ventura County Jail today.
Gaona was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail, Mendoza was being held in lieu of $110,000 bail, and Zamora was ineligible for bail due to the allegation that he entered the country illegally, jail records show. References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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