Man Pleads No Contest in Killing of Puppy
A man who killed a puppy in front of a group of horrified children on Christmas Day pleaded no contest to cruelty to animals and was sentenced to 110 days in County Jail. Richard Gonzalez, 21, of the Florence-Firestone area, made the plea on the misdemeanor charge Wednesday after his trial in Los Angeles Municipal Court had begun, Deputy Dist. Atty. James Grodin said.
Municipal Court Judge Bruce Marrs placed Gonzalez on three years probation. In sentencing Gonzalez, the judge gave him credit for 54 days he had already spent in custody, leaving 56 remaining days to be served.
On Christmas Day, Grodin said, Gonzalez became angry, picked up a puppy in front of his home in the 7600 block of Miramonte Boulevard and slammed the dog onto a concrete driveway. While a group of neighborhood youngsters looked on, Gonzalez hit the puppy with his hand and threw it about five feet.
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