Chihuahua beaten, teeth pulled out Prescott, AZ (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Apr 30, 2002 County: Yavapai Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Robert James Lunt

Case ID: 1656 Classification: Mutilation/Torture Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in AZ (US) Login to Watch this Case

A judge sentenced Robert James Lunt, a 38-year-old man convicted of two Class 6 felonies of cruelty to animals, to three years of supervised probation.

In addition, he will have to complete 120 hours of community service, attend an anger management program and programs that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) offers locally.   Before Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Janis Sterling sentenced the defendant, she said she received dozens of letters from members of PETA. She said she read most of them, but did not get to those that arrived just before the sentencing proceeding.

Sterling said she tried to locate programs that PETA may have offered locally, but she was unable to find a single one.

In May 2002, a grand jury indicted Lunt on two counts of cruelty to animals and one count of criminal damage stemming from an incident during which he attacked two dogs while their guardian, Sylvia St. Lo, was asleep.

St. Lo addressed the court on Tuesday. She said the court must understand the seriousness of Lunt�s conduct.

�He tortured the dogs,� she said. �These dogs were my children. Robert knew how much they meant to me.�

St. Jo described to the court the extent of the injuries her 13-year-old chihuahua and a dachshund suffered during Lunt�s attack.

She said Lunt pulled out most of the Chihuahua�s teeth and beat her to the point that her eyes were bulging. She said she found the dog in a closet, shaking and bloody.

"There was blood all over my walls and the bathroom," she said.

The other dog sustained internal injuries and broken ribs, she said.

"He took my children away and he did it in cold blood," she said, asking the judge to order the defendant not to be around animals ever again and to consider both offenses as designated felonies.

Lunt�s lawyer, Kenneth Ray, told the judge that he protests and denies some of the allegations that St. Lo made against his client. He said Lunt has taken responsibility for his actions and showed remorse.

He said this was an isolated incident and his client has taken responsibility for dealing with his issues and problems. He said Lunt�s lack of a criminal record and his service to his country are mitigating factors, and asked the court to leave the offenses as undesignated felonies.

�We are not minimizing the harm done to these animals, but there is certainly remorse and responsibility taken by my client,� he said.

Lunt asked the court to �assume my remorse and I�m sorry for my actions.�

He said he has taken several steps to better himself, including his participation in a few programs.

Before Sterling sentenced Lunt, Deputy Yavapai County Attorney William Hughes urged the court to consider one of the offenses as a designated felony instead of an undesignated felony, which she did.

The court will have a restitution hearing on this matter after the victim submits all the information related to her expenses accrued as a result of this incident. 

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