On the same day, Judge Clayton Davis sentenced Sanders to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections, with five of those years being suspended.
He was also sentenced to five years in prison for the theft charge, with the time running concurrent (at the same time rather than back-to-back).
So really he only got five years in prison... they make it sound like he got 10 years plus 5 for the theft. But most people never go to county jail let alone prison so it's nothing to be too upset about.
When he is released from prison, he will be on supervised probation for 5 years and during this time Sanders must pay full restitution for all Halo’s medical bills, have no contact with dogs, have no contact with witnesses and perform community service. Judge Davis also ordered Sanders to pay $5,000 in fines and court costs.
The court also dealt with charges Sanders accumulated in four other incidents. Sanders pleaded guilty to DWI and marijuana possession, although prosecutors dropped charges from the other two dockets — reckless operation and unlawful purchase or public possession of alcohol.
Sanders received the DWI after he was found to have a 0.10 blood-alcohol level on March 3, 2012, May said. He was stopped by state police after he was seen accelerating and spinning out of control, she said.
On Jan. 28, 2012, he was arrested for marijuana possession at the mall, May said. Lake Charles police found the marijuana as they searched him for shoplifting a lighter.
After May read the facts on all Sanders’ charges, Davis asked him if he admitted to them.
“Yes, sir,” he replied.
Defense attorney Ralph Williams said he did not wish to comment.
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| Halo before he was stolen from his original family |
Sanders reportedly stole Halo, a pit bull puppy, from the backyard of a residence on Arkansas Street on Aug. 16, 2013 and abused the animal during the time it was in his possession — until Nov. 21, when a mail carrier found the puppy and called authorities.
After the dog was stolen, Halo’s original owners posted “missing” signs, even giving one to Sanders, who threw it away, “proving he knew who the rightful owners were and chose not to give the animal back,” May said while telling Davis the facts of the case.
Witnesses said Sanders repeatedly abused the animal and shot it three times in the head with a pellet gun, May said. Three pellets remain in the dog’s head, she said. The dog had broken bones and showed signs of blunt-force trauma to its face and head.
The dog - now named Halo - suffered permanent damage to its sight and mobility, May said, and will eventually need to have its right front leg amputated.
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| The puppy suffered months of abuse at the hands of Tyler Sanders |
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christy Rhoades May for the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Office.
(Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Office - April 3, 2014)
