| For Immediate Release Case # 09SF1202
April 16, 2010 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
APARTMENT VANDAL SENTENCED FOR KILLING DOG BY CHOKING AND SLAMMING IT AGAINST A SIDEWALK
NEWPORT BEACH – A man was convicted today of killing a dog by slamming its head against a concrete sidewalk numerous times after vandalizing his apartment complex earlier that morning. Bayron Reyes Lopez, 26, San Clemente, pleaded guilty to the court to one felony count of animal cruelty and one felony count of vandalism. He was sentenced to one year in jail and three years of formal probation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a hold on the defendant, who is expected to be deported to Mexico upon completion of his sentence.
At approximately 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 30, 2009, Lopez vandalized his San Clemente apartment complex by shattering the glass doors to the gym using a metal chair.
At approximately 6:00 a.m. that same morning, Lopez approached a woman who was walking her dog, Kokanee, a 5-year-old miniature schnauzer. The defendant raised his arms above his head in a threatening manner and began to yell at the woman, who became frightened and attempted to run in to the street to get away. Lopez chased after her and then picked up Kokanee, whose leash had tangled around a street sign pole.
The defendant grabbed the dog around the neck with both hands and choked it before repeatedly slamming the dog on the concrete sidewalk multiple times. Lopez then fled and Kokanee died at the scene.
Responding police officers located Lopez shortly thereafter at the Rancho San Clemente Tennis Club, where the defendant worked as a maintenance man. When officers arrived they found Lopez nude lying on his stomach in a pool of coffee.
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