August 11, By Hannah Wulkan
A Jackson Heights man pleaded guilty yesterday to killing his girlfriend’s three-year-old Chihuahua by slamming it against the floor during a dispute with this girlfriend in January.
Carlos Hernandez, 33, pleaded guilty before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Deborah Stevens Modica to one count each of aggravated cruelty to animals, third-degree robbery, fourth-degree criminal mischief, endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree harassment and two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny.
According to the charges, Hernandez was engaged in a heated argument in the apartment he shared with his girlfriend and her daughter in Forest Hills around 6:15 a.m. on January 10. He grabbed the Chihuahua from her arms and slammed it against the floor, causing it to bleed from its ears and collapse on the floor, where it died minutes later.
“The defendant has admitted to pulling his girlfriend’s small dog out of her arms during an argument and killing the helpless animal by violently throwing the dog to the floor. Such acts of aggression toward animals cannot – and will not – be tolerated,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Hernandez has been out on $7,500 bail since January, and his sentencing is scheduled for September 28.
Modica said she would sentence him to 60 days in jail, four years probation, and would require him to register with the New York City Department of Health as an animal abuser. This would prevent him from purchasing or adopting a pet from any shelter, pet store or rescue group in the future.
This case was the first prosecuted under Brown’s new Animal Cruelty Prosecution Unit, instituted this past January. The unit investigates and prosecutes animal cruelty crimes and educates the public on how to prevent and detect cruelty to animals. This unit is the first of its kind a District Attorney’s office in New York City.
Featured Events
2 Comments
Yes he should of got more jail time-What a savage-Heartless and cold!
2 months? 2 months? But then again did anyone expect more? our laws today protect criminals not the public ! What an outrage I bet he’s laughing his ass off and will do it again when the chance arises. What protection does she have? Why wasn’t the life of the dog ( a family member) considered at all?