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| Prosecutor(s): | Sam Oatman |
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Dog shot to death, former deputy charged
Llano, TX (US)Incident Date: Monday, Aug 2, 2010
County: Llano
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: Melvin Lawson
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A Llano grand jury indicted a retired Llano Sheriff's deputy in the August shooting death of a dog.
Melvin Lawson, 66, turned himself in to police after he was accused of shooting 2 1/2 year-old Munchee, a Pekingese, in the neck and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Lawson was charged with cruelty to a non-livestock animal.
The indictment states Lawson “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly” killed the dog without the consent of Mary Gomez, the dog's owner, on Aug. 2
Gomez spoke with KXAN in late August at her San Antonio home and said she was visiting her daughter and grandchildren at their home on Oatman Street and let Munchee out to go to the bathroom - but didn't realize the gate surrounding the property was open.
She believes Munchee wandered into Lawson's yard just a few feet away.
"I never in my wildest dreams thought that would happen to her there," Gomez had told KXAN.
Munchee initially survived the attack, but suffered complications and had to be euthanized days later.
"She couldn't move her legs, she couldn't walk, she looked very weak and very tired," Gomez recalled.
Gomez, insistent on getting justice for her beloved pet, took to the internet and started an online petition called, " Justice for Munchee ."
Almost 1,700 people have signed the petition and left supportive comments.
"This story was so unbelievable," wrote Kay Cee from Cole, Texas, who was the 1,692 person to sign the petition. "How can a person be so intolerable, ignorant and cruel? Munchee was only 18 lbs. He posed no threat to this man and yet he found the need to take the life of a harmless animal. I hope the District Attorney's Office does not fail to give justice to Munchee and his owner. This man should serve time and be penalized for his cruel and inexcusable acts."
"Justice should be served," wrote Angela Williams, the 1,689 person to sign the petition. "People need to realize they can not get away with animal cruelty."
Gomez had these signatures sent to Llano District Attorney Sam Oatman.
Her goal is to get 2,000 signatures.
If Lawson is convicted, he faces up to two years in jail.
Case UpdatesA retired Llano County Sheriff's deputy is scheduled to stand trial in June, accused of shooting a pet dog in Llano last year.
Melvin Allen Lawson, 66, of Llano, is charged with cruelty to a non-livestock animal; a jury trial in his case has been scheduled on the judicial docket for June 13 at 8:30 a.m. at the Llano County Courthouse, said Cindy Keele, 424th District Court Coordinator.
A grand jury indicted Lawson on Oct. 4 for allegedly shooting a two-and-half-year-old Pekinese mix pet dog, at the 1600 block of Oatman Street on Aug. 2. The dog, named Munchee, was later euthanized after suffering a gunshot wound through its neck inflicted by a .45-caliber bullet, said the dog's owner Mary Gomez of Kingsland, who was visiting her daughter and grandchildren the week of the shooting. | Source: llanocj.com - Apr 4, 2011
Update posted on Apr 4, 2011 - 9:32PM |
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