Torrance, Felony Animal Cruelty Reduced to Misdemeanor, Lawyer Success # 4
Our client was arrested and charged with a felony violation of California Penal Code § 597(b), (Cruelty to Animals). Our client left his pit bull in the back of his Ford Explorer while he went into his Lomita apartment. At the time, it was more than 85 degrees outside. Although our client left all four windows slightly open to allow fresh air for his dog and left a bowl of water for his dog in the car before leaving to his apartment, the dog was allegedly close to death when “rescued.”
Our client’s neighbor called the Torrance Police Department when he saw the dog in the car. When officers arrived, they broke open the door and took the dog out. The dog had been in the car for approximately 45 minutes in the September heat.
Hearing the commotion, our client came out of his apartment and asked what was happening. When the officers realized he was the owner of the car and the dog, they placed him under arrest.
At the time, our client had one month left to finish his nursing education and a felony conviction of this sort would cause him to become ineligible to become a licensed as a registered nurse.
Greg Hill negotiated with the Torrance District Attorney to have the charges lowered to a misdemeanor, as our client loved his dog, volunteered at a local veterinarian and never had the intention of hurting the dog. A felony conviction would also create punishment beyond the scope of the violation. In the end, our client pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge of Penal Code Section 597(b) and was ordered to pay the veterinary's bill for services that were rendered to the dog. He was also placed on an 18 month’s summary probation.
Our client’s neighbor called the Torrance Police Department when he saw the dog in the car. When officers arrived, they broke open the door and took the dog out. The dog had been in the car for approximately 45 minutes in the September heat.
Hearing the commotion, our client came out of his apartment and asked what was happening. When the officers realized he was the owner of the car and the dog, they placed him under arrest.
At the time, our client had one month left to finish his nursing education and a felony conviction of this sort would cause him to become ineligible to become a licensed as a registered nurse.
Greg Hill negotiated with the Torrance District Attorney to have the charges lowered to a misdemeanor, as our client loved his dog, volunteered at a local veterinarian and never had the intention of hurting the dog. A felony conviction would also create punishment beyond the scope of the violation. In the end, our client pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge of Penal Code Section 597(b) and was ordered to pay the veterinary's bill for services that were rendered to the dog. He was also placed on an 18 month’s summary probation.