Pit-bull puppy beaten to death San Bernardino, CA (US) Incident Date: Saturday, Dec 25, 2004 County: San Bernardino Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Robert A. Espinoza Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 3451 Classification: Beating Animal: dog (pit-bull) View more cases in CA (US) Drugs or alcohol involved Login to Watch this Case

At least three children watched as a 30-year-old man allegedly beat a pit bull puppy to death during a drunken family quarrel in an apartment Christmas night, a police sergeant said.

The suspect Robert A. Espinoza remained at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on Monday. Bail was set at $100,000. He was arrested on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child and animal cruelty after a holiday spat at Ridgeline Apartments on College Avenue.

Espinoza, who police suspect had been drinking, became upset with family members at some point during the night, Sgt. Craig Keith said.

"Rather than strike out at them, he struck out at the dog,' he said.

Espinoza threw the family's pit bull puppy around in front of his 10-year-old and 7-year-old sons and a 12-year-old niece, who attempted to help the injured dog during the beating, Keith said.

Police arrived at 9:25 p.m. after a family member reported the domestic altercation, but by then, the puppy, which was about 2 months old, was already dead.

Espinoza was arrested for willful cruelty to a child because of the emotional trauma the children suffered while watching him beat the helpless puppy to death, Keith said.

Inflicting emotional injury on a child is a misdemeanor under the California Penal Code and could lead to a sentence of up to six months, Supervising Deputy District Attorney Dwight Moore said.

Animal cruelty can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or as a felony depending on the extent of the abuse or the defendant's criminal history. As a felony, it could lead to a six-year prison sentence. As a lesser charge, the crime is punishable by up to a year in county jail.

To contact the prosecuting attorney in this case, write to:

Mike O�Connell, Deputy District Attorney
Office of the San Bernardino County District Attorney
316 N. Mountain View Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92415

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References

	San Bernardino County Sun
	San Bernardino County Sun
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