State District Judge Maria Teresa Herr handed Gerald Davison Rodriguez, 31, the maximum punishment for cruelty to animals after witnesses also said Rodriguez tried to intimidate — and even bribe — them into not testifying.
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| Chester, after being tortured by Rodriguez |
Rodriguez pleaded no contest to the charge in November without a plea agreement in place. He had asked for deferred adjudication probation.
Sandra Morales, now Rodriguez's ex-wife, said he was initially welcoming to her longtime pet, named Chester, when they got married after about a month of dating.
“I told him from the beginning I had a dog and he sleeps in my bed,” she said. An argument last January escalated and Rodriguez shoved the dog against the wall at least 10 times, with Chester making “a shriek sort of sound” each time, Morales recalled through tears.
Alejandro Arruti, who described himself as Rodriguez's best friend, said he then saw Rodriguez carry the dog into the bathroom and slam it into the bathtub.
“Hell just broke loose,” Arruti testified. “I was telling him we were going to have problems if he didn't stop, but he was just a raging bull. I've never seen him like that.”
Chester was partially paralyzed. He is able to walk but still cannot put full weight on his legs, Morales said.
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| Hiding from camera during his 'perp walk' |
Rodriguez has been diagnosed with severe attention deficit hyperactive disorder since childhood and spent time in a private mental health facility, said a psychologist called by the defense. His condition has caused him to act impulsively and be less mature than others his age, she said.
[Less mature than others his age?! He's 31 years old!!!]
Defense attorney Scott Hill pointed out that his client has no other history of violence. “In the heat of the moment he took it out on the dog,” Hill said.
(mysanantonio.com - Jan 20, 2012)
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