Harry Potter Forums

Posts: 9355

WARNING- this can be a tad disturbing to animal lovers. They should do the same thing to the california teen.

VENTURA, Calif. —

A teenager who tortured and mutilated the pet tortoise of an autistic boy was sentenced to nine months in jail and must give up his own animals.

Jose Antonio Mosqueda, 18, of Ventura was sentenced Monday to five years of probation and ordered to pay $5,479 in restitution. He could have received up to three years in prison.

Although he was given 270 days in jail, Mosqueda was credited with 156 days already served and for good conduct.

Mosqueda pleaded no contest in September to felony animal cruelty. Prosecutors said he snatched a 40-pound African spurred tortoise named Bob from a Ventura backyard on July 7, slashed its legs and neck, punctured its shell and threw it against a wall.

The animal is recovering but owner Dorothy Sullivan said the injuries traumatized her 7-year-old son, William, whose first spoken words had been to his pet.

"My little boy is so scared now he fears he will be taken and harmed like the tortoise. I don't know how to make my son feel safe in our home," she said in tearful remarks to the court before the sentencing.

Sullivan said the family was threatened, had to install a $1,000 security system and was looking to move out of the neighborhood.

She also said the family's 12-year-old pet miniature dachshund, Flapps, was poisoned. The dog was euthanized after becoming ill, possibly from ingesting antifreeze. Police were investigating.

Mosqueda's attorney said the defendant wrote apologies to the family. However, the judge rejected his request to reduce the felony count to a misdemeanor.

"He is a first-time offender, and other than a truancy ticket, he has no record," attorney Brian Vogel said. "It seems like this is the kind of conduct that is out of character for him."

"He is definitely remorseful about what happened," Vogel said.

Mosqueda was given 270 days in jail but credited with 156 days already served and for good conduct in jail.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Bruce Clark said Mosqueda may not have access to any animals, which means he will have to give up his pet iguana, dog and snake.
_________________

Posts: 3916 · Joined: Aug 15, 2007 Location: TEXAS Posts: 3916

In Texas, he would have been executed by a posse for that.
_________________

^ HP Chat & Games

Posts: 9355 · Posted: November 6, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject:

good!!

ravvy moves to texas and applies for angry mob position
_________________

Posts: 26918 · Posted: November 6, 2007 7:37 pm Post subject:

I think he got off way too lightly for that.
_________________

Blame it on a simple twist of fate. ~ Bob Dylan
"To commemorate a past event, you kill and eat an animal. It's a ritual sacrifice. With pie." ~ Anya <3

Report this post · Guest

I agree with Ginnyx. Even if you're not a super duper animal lover, it's still destruction of private property. I'm sure if it were a plasma TV he'd destroyed, he'd get more time. Rolling Eyes

Poor kid. (The autistic boy) Crying

Posts: 9355 · Posted: November 7, 2007 5:31 am Post subject:

I think the mother should sue for pain and suffering for her son. it is hard enough having an autistic child but to have something traumatic happen and any progress you did goes out the window. the poor kid is scared, he should be compansated.
_________________

Report this post · Guest

I'm on the fence there. The bitch in me says "Sue just to piss them off." The logical side says "money won't cure an autistic child's pain and suffering of a lost pet." In this case, I'd sue just to be an a-hole.

Posts: 26918 · Posted: November 9, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject:

usually judges don't go for the 'pain and suffering' lawsuits money, anyway. putting the autistic child up on the stand could prove more harmful than helpful to the child, anyway.
_________________

Blame it on a simple twist of fate. ~ Bob Dylan
"To commemorate a past event, you kill and eat an animal. It's a ritual sacrifice. With pie." ~ Anya <3

Posts: 9355 · Posted: November 9, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject:

yea yer right
_________________

Posts: 6594 · Joined: Nov 29, 2006 Posts: 6594

How horrible...
Thats so mean...
_________________
Peace is a lie. There is only passion.
Through Passion, I gain strength.
Through Strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory my chains are broken.

Harry Potter Forums

Harry Potter Community and Bulletin Boards